Govt To Remove Tax On Smartphones

The government would from beginning of 2015 fiscal year remove taxes on the importation of smartphones into the country. Finance Minister revealed this on the floor of Parliament today when he presented the budget estimates for the 2015 fiscal year. The tax removal component, Seth Terkper said is part of the ways through which government seeks to promote the mobile phone dealing business in the country. The Customs and Excise Amendment Bill 2013 introduced the increment to enable government raise GH�49.8 million as tax revenue to support developmental activities for the year. However, mobile phone dealers in the country have constantly complained of the effect of the 20% tax imposed on the importation of telephone handsets. They have claimed in a series of press conferences that government would help in the growth of their business if it as a matter of urgency remove the tax component as a means of helping the growth of the communication sector. However, the dealers seem to have a sigh of relief as the government is reporting of the removal of tax components on smartphones. Mr. Terkper announced that this is part of the measures instituted by the government to also promote the use of internet.