Presentation by Leonard Shang-Quartey ISODEC Accra
Dec 25, 2015
Presentation by Leonard Shang-Quartey ISODECAccra
Country Recommendations
Uganda Review the tax exemption structure for more revenues for the fiscally squeezed Treasury.
Bangladesh
Salaries of foreign technicians should be reviewed and specifically defined since a large number of foreign technicians are working in Bangladesh and many companies often fraudulently misuse this measure
Exemptions of income from poultry, fisheries, livestock, horticulture, etc. Should be reconsidered as there is widespread misuse of the provision.
The tax holiday facility should replaced with the accelerated depreciation allowances or lower tax rates in earlier years and gradual increase in the later
Explore use of tax credits which generates greater revenue as compared to tax exemptions or allowances
Country
Recommendations
Ghana Free Zones should be compelled to improve transparency by researching into the cost benefits they generate
Government should resist the pressures from special interest groups for “special treatment
Government should address the culture were evasion is still regarded as a badge of honour for majority of people in Ghana
Senegal Avoidance of sacrifices made through "tax expenditures" which have no effect on the incentives to invest and create jobs
Egypt Eliminate tax evasion by non-commercial professions, through collaboration between professional unions and the tax authority
Review the law of customs exemptions as well as the customs law
Country Recommendations
Uganda Conduct research to establish the factors that have contributed to low tax, GDP ratio and the growing tax gap
Government should issue national identification to citizens
Review GPT and re-introduce it as a mass tax for supporting Local governments and propel citizens to consider their role and responsibility towards government
Nigeria Policy on Tax Identification number should be implemented
Government should create more employment avenues to widen tax base
“Government should be sincere to provide public goods and services like electricity supply, Water supply, good road networks and health institutions in Nigeria to encourage the tax payers”
Country Recommendations
Ghana Replace multi–rate sales taxes with single rate taxes with few exemptions
Eliminate most income tax credits and deductions, and progressive rate structures, in favour of a flat (or flatter) rate
Assess and collect significant penalties for lack of payment
Frequent amnesties should be avoided as they only send a signal that tax evasion will be forgiven
Egypt Introduction of the VAT to replace the sales tax system but until basic commodities have been exempted
Country Recommendations
Uganda The Revenue Authority’s should be well resourced for improved performance. Cost of collection of revenue at 2.4% is within the acceptable limits of less than 5%.
Need to invest into research to improve quality of tax policies and administration
Ghana Move towards systems of voluntary compliance and self – assessment which is partially practiced in Ghana now
Continue to replace manual systems with computerization, based on careful planning and design of the computerization systems.
Country
Recommendations
Nigeria Government should tackle corruption at all levels to avoid leakages
There should be proper checks and balances on the tax officials to curb the corrupt practices by some tax officials in Nigeria
THANK YOU!