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As GRA bemoans tardy number of returns from self-employed

Apr 27, 2010 News

The self-employed category of taxpayers is the greatest area of concern for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) since they are the most delinquent, says Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur.
“They do not pay their fair share of taxes and are holding those who pay to ransom. The taxes paid are far less than what they should be paying.”
While the 2009 tax collection results have shown an improvement in this area, the self-employed category needs to show greater level of compliance.
Internal revenue collections increased by 6.3 percent to $36.7 billion in 2009. Underlying this increase was a 24 percent increase in income tax payments by self-employed persons and a 19.9 percent increase in corporation tax payments by public sector companies. Corporation tax payments by private sector companies and income tax under the Pay-As-You-Earn system increased moderately at five per cent and 4.3 percent, respectively.
According to the Commissioner-General, bringing the self-employed into the tax net is a gradual process that needs recognition by every citizen that they are duty bound to pay their taxes. The taxes are needed to provide basic services in the country, including security, infrastructure, education and health care.
“GRA is sparing no efforts in bringing the full force of the law against these taxpayers since it is grossly unfair for the ordinary workers in the system to be made to pay the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), and other taxes from their meager earnings from the day they start working while these high-earning taxpayers cheat their taxes.”
April 30 is the due date for the filing of all tax returns and self-employed persons are being reminded that GRA has the ability to identify tax evaders, money launderers and drug traffickers.
“The evidence of their activities through the ownership of significant assets such as expensive cars, houses, large bank accounts and extravagant living are worth mentioning, that is not to say that we at the GRA are not doing anything about what we know about some of them.”
GRA also said, yesterday, that it is aware of persons who receive “large amounts of interest on their bank accounts, since the notice of withholding tax by financial institutions is forwarded to the GRA. Information about property transfers is also available from the Deeds Registry.”
GRA said that it is willing to meet with various self-employed groups (professionals, farmers, small traders etc.), especially persons operating in the underground economy who have never even come within the purview of GRA and some larger businesses which still maintain their accounting system in a primitive manner.
“It may be possible through these meetings to establish a consensus which will raise the level of expectation of the taxes to be collected from these persons. Once their ability to pay is determined by the GRA, the burden will quickly be shared equally leading to a more equitable and efficient tax system,” GRA said in the press statement yesterday.

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