Taxation In Ghana: All You Need To Know

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Taxes in Ghana

If you are an established business operating in Ghana, one of your key obligations is to pay your taxes. Calculating taxes can be tedious, even more so if you are not sure about the rates and percentages. But the big deal here is that you still have to pay them. Hence, you should know the various taxes to pay and the rates.

This article details everything you need to know about tax registration, tax rates, tax incentives, withholding taxes, income taxes, monthly tax filings, and audits in Ghana. Learn more from these guidelines that will help you comply with all tax requirements in Ghana.

 

Tax registration

  1. All businesses are required to register with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
  2. Businesses exempted from corporate tax are still required to register their business with the GRA to pay income tax.
  3. All businesses registering with the GRA, must do so at the nearest GRA district office closest to the project location.
  4. To register your company with the GRA, the following documents are required;
  • Completed corporate tax registration forms
  • VAT registration forms (If Applicable)
  • Resume of all directors of the company
  • Pictorial delineation of the project/office location
  1. A provisional tax assessment is raised on all businesses yearly, including new business registrations.
  2. For new business tax registration, provisional tax assessment is determined by the GRA office in consideration of the objects of the business, stated capital and the nationality of the shareholders.
  3. All companies liable for tax in Ghana are required to pay provisional tax quarterly.

Tax Rates and Incentives

Annual income tax rates (Effective January 2022) – Find below

Year 2022Chargeable Income GH¢Rate %Tax Payable GH¢Cumulative Income GH¢Cumulative Tax GH¢
 First365003650
 Next11055.54755.5
Next1301013.0060518.5
Next3,000.0017.55253,605.00543.5
Next16,395.00254,098.7520,000.004,642.25
Exceeding20,000.0030 6,000  

 

Monthly income tax rates (Effective January 2022) – Find below

Year 2022Chargeable Income GH¢Rate %Tax Payable GH¢Cumulative Income GH¢Cumulative Tax GH¢
 First4,3800043800
 Next1,3205665,70066
Next1,560101567,260222
Next36,00017.56,30043,2606,522
Next196,7402549,185240,00055,707
Exceeding240,00030 72,000

 

  1. Reliefs in the fifth Schedule have been revised as follows:

A relief is an allowance given to a resident individual to reduce his or her tax burden.

Type Of ReliefsCurrent Relief GH
Marriage / Responsibility1,200 per Year
Old Age (Granted persons age 60 years and above)1,500 per Year
Child Education (Granted for a maximum of 3 children enrolled in recognised registered educational institutions in the country).600 per Child per Year
Aged Dependant Relative (Granted for up to two (2) dependant relatives of 60 years or more.1,000 per Year
Professional Training Relief2,000 per Year

 

  1. The general Corporate Income Tax rate is 25%. However, contemporary rates are depending on the nature of business carried out by an entity, the location of the business and the specific industry in which it operates.

 

Rate%
Income of a Trust25
Company principally engaged in the hotel industry22
Company engaged in the export of non-traditional exports8
Financial institutions from loans granted to farming enterprises20
Financial institutions from loans granted to a leasing company20
Manufacturing companies located in regional capitals  (except Accra & Tema)18.5
Manufacturing companies located outside Accra, Tema and the regional capitals12.5
Free Zone Enterprises after 10 years tax holiday (on domestic sales)25
Free Zone Enterprises after 10 years tax holiday (on the export of goods and services)15
Petroleum income tax35
Mineral income tax35

Tax filings

All companies are required to file their monthly and annual tax returns.

  • VAT – 30th of the month
  • Income tax (PAYE) – 15th of the month
  • Withholding tax – 15th of the month
  • Annual audited financial statement – not later than 30th  April of the year.

Penalty for late filing of tax returns are

  • VAT – After the last working day, you will pay Ghc500. Any additional day is Gh10.
  • Withholding tax – After 15th you pay Gh500. Any additional day is Gh10
  • Income tax – After each quarter (March, June, September, December), you pay Gh500. Any additional day is Gh 10.
  • Annual financial statements – After the last working day of April, you will pay Gh500. Any additional day is Gh10.

Tax audits

From time to time, the GRA may initiate a company audit. In that audit, the company will have to supply the following relevant company source documents;

  • VAT invoice books
  • Copies of VAT monthly filings
  • Bank statements
  • PAYE receipts
  • Cashbook
  • Sales books
  • Copies of payment receipts for general and operational expenses
  • Custom import documents as evidence for importation
  • Asset register
  • Trial balance

 

During an audit, the tax officers typically assess whether the source documents agree with the audited financial statement that has been submitted to the GRA. Specifically;

  • VAT invoices must agree with the Monthly VAT filings
  • Monthly VAT filings must agree with the reported Annual turnover figure in the financial statement
  • The annual turnover figure must correspond with the company’s sales book and bank statement sales deposits.
  • The expenses in the Profit and Loss statement must be traced to the cash book, with supported payment receipts accordingly
  • The salaries and wages figure in the Profit and Loss tally with the PAYE filings
  • All acquisitions of new assets must be evidenced by appropriate receipts and the asset register, and shown in the balance sheet as well.

 

Withholding taxes in Ghana

  1. The following incomes are subject to withholding tax at the rates specified in the table below;

 

IncomeRate %
Dividends8
Interest (excluding individuals and resident financial institutions)8
Rent on residential properties8
Rent on non-residential properties15
Fees to resident individuals as invigilators, examiners and part-time teachers or lecturers, and endorsement fees to individuals10
Fees or allowances to directors, managers, board members and trustees who are resident individuals20
Commission to insurance, sales, canvassing and lotto agents who are individuals10
Supply of services by an entity exceeding GH¢2,000 per annum7.5
Supply of general services by an individual7.5
Supply of goods exceeding GH¢2,000 per annum3
Supply of works exceeding GH¢2,000 per annum5
Payments to petroleum subcontractors7.5
Payments for unprocessed precious minerals3
Royalty, natural resource payments15

 

Income (Non-Residents)Rate%
Dividends8
Management and technical service fees20
Goods, works or any services20
Royalties, natural resources payments and rents15
Income from telecommunication and transportation business15
Payments to petroleum subcontractors15
Repatriated branch after tax profits8
Interest income (excluding individuals)8
General insurance premiums5

 

 

Excise tax stamp

The Excise Tax Stamp is a specially designed stamp with digital and other security features which is affixed on excisable goods to show that taxes and duties have been paid or would be paid. The stamp is affixed on specified excisable goods in Ghana whether locally manufactured or imported.

Products that Attract Excise Tax Stamp

  • Cigarettes and other tobacco products;
  • Alcoholic beverages bottled, canned, contained in kegs for sale or packaged in any other form;
  • Non-alcoholic carbonated beverages bottled, canned or packaged in any other form.
  • Bottled Water etc.
  • Any other excisable product prescribed by the Finance Minister.

VAT

Value Added Tax
Taxable SuppliesStandard Rate15%
Taxable SuppliesExports0%
Taxable SuppliesRetailers and Wholesalers3%
National Health Insurance Levy
Taxable SuppliesStandard Rate2.5%
Ghana Education Trust Fund Levy
Taxable SuppliesStandard Rate2.5%
Covid-19 Levy
Taxable SuppliesStandard Rate1%

 

Illustration (Calculating VAT)

Value of Taxable Supplies     =    Ghc 12,000

NHIL   =  Ghc 12,000 * 2.5% =   Ghc   300

GETFL = Ghc 12,000 * 2.5% =   Ghc   300

COVID-19 LEVY = Ghc 12,000 * 1% = Ghc 120

Subtotal                               Ghc   12,720.00

 

VAT = Ghc 12,720 * 15%   =   Ghc 1,908.00

Total Amount  to be paid to GRA = NHIL + GETFL + VAT

= Ghc (300 + 300 + 120+ 1,908)

= Ghc 2,628.00

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7 Comments

  • Peter Amponsah

    January 11, 2019 - 12:31 pm

    which type of tax rate is appropriate for manufacturing, retailing and wholeselling companies in ghana

  • nana yaw adjei boafo

    April 5, 2019 - 1:09 pm

    keep updating us on current tax issues pending in the country

  • Mojoyinola Odebiyi

    April 9, 2019 - 1:35 pm

    This is good. Taxes in Ghana at a glance, but obsolete. Kindly update.

  • Segun

    October 23, 2019 - 10:34 am

    Are there any tax credit for Solar and are there any tax holidays for investments of over 30 million dollars

  • Robert Appiah

    October 31, 2019 - 2:53 pm

    Kindly update the monthly and annual income tax rates and the VAT and NHIL as well. Thanks

  • NATHANIEL ALUG-BAEK

    November 18, 2019 - 4:11 pm

    WELL NOTED.
    BUT WHY SHOULD I PAY PAYE FOR WAGES?
    BECAUSE, THE LABOURERS I WILL ENGAGE THIS WEEK ARE NOT THE SAME LABOURERS I WILL ENGAGE NEXT WEEK.

  • Narh-Paddie Willam

    December 20, 2019 - 4:11 pm

    What is the procedure for compulsory registration of a permanent establishment business in Ghana?

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