The Authority during the year under review was tasked by the government to collect the sum of D15.2 billion, indicating a growth of 19% from the 2022 revenue target.
“I am delighted to announce that the Authority as at 31st December, collected the sum of D15.656 billion, registering a 4% collection above the target and a 23% revenue performance growth when compared to the 2022 revenue performance,” he disclosed at a press conference yesterday.
He described the achievement as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the GRA team, the support of the government, and the cooperation of taxpayers and stakeholders.
According to CG Darboe, this revenue performance is attributed to a “substantial nominal growth of 36% in international trade or absolute terms D2,239,357,480,01 and an impressive 11% growth for domestic Taxes or an absolute variance of D735,441,739,75 when compared to the 2022 revenue performance for both departments.”
He cited that the press conference was not just on GRA’s revenue performance but also the reforms GRA had undertaken and the challenges faced during 2023 and plans for 2024.
CG Darboe stated that throughout 2023, the Authority successfully implemented a series of reforms and strategies to enhance efficiency, transparency and optimizing revenue collection processes.
He cited that the introduction of the ASYCUDA World system contributed immensely to the revenue performance for international trade. “In 2023, GRA established a Rental Income Tax Office dedicated to administering rental income to leverage on the growing number of rental properties in the country,” he revealed, stating that the Rental Income Tax Unit in its first year collected the sum of D72.32 Million, representing an impressive growth of 87% when compared to the previous year.
However, he added, “GRA recognizes the need for continued efforts to improve compliance among this category.”
He said that in 2023, GRA introduced an IT Solution for excisable goods, telecoms services and refined fuel through a PPP Arrangement. “Also in 2023, the Authority signed another PPP contract for the implementation of the Single Window platform, e-tracking and digital weighbridge, whose implementations are currently underway, and we are hopeful that this IT solution will enhance trade and improve revenue administration,” he added.
CG Darboe told journalists that as the World becomes a digital space, the Authority is also leveraging IT solutions to digitalise “our entire business processes and procedures to make tax compliance easy and less costly for the taxpayers.”
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