The
Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday organised a daylong sensitisation
forum for about 80 students from various departments of Gambia College.
Held
at the college campus in Brikama, the forum was to expose and make the students
understand the various taxes under the domain of GRA as part of efforts to
educate and sensitise the general public on taxation and its importance to the
development of The Gambia.
Speaking
on behalf of the GRA commissioner general, Sulayman Barry said the Income and
Value Added Tax Act was passed into law by the National Assembly in June 2012
but became operational in January 2013, replacing the Sales Tax that was in
existence.
Barry,
who is GRA’s deputy director of compliance, taxpayer education and training,
said the changes from sales tax to value added tax is geared towards
modernising the tax system and improving compliance.
The
introduction of VAT is part of a legal and financial management reforms
recently undertaken by the government to promote macro-economic stability,
improve revenue mobilisation, promote efficiency in resource allocation, among
others.
Mr
Barry said the seminar with the college students is part of series of
programmes being undertaken by the GRA with key stakeholders in the country to
deepen their understanding and improve compliance.
“We
value and appreciate your partnership and we kindly urge you to always engage
us on matters of taxation to enhance greater understanding and application,” he
said.
The
principal of Gambia College, Aboubacarr Jallow, commended the GRA for
“contributing in the development process of the Gambia College students’
education”.
He
urged the students to ask question, to clarify any doubt regarding tax payment
in general and to further share the knowledge with other students.
