Addressing participants, the Commissioner General said their presence underscored the critical role manufacturers play in The Gambia’s economic and fiscal landscape. “As manufacturers and industrial businesses, your operations have broad economic and fiscal implications given that your supplies to other business entities contribute a major share of domestic revenue,” he stated.
He noted that taxpayers’ record-keeping and reporting systems directly impact the integrity of tax data, and that businesses are “literally building the future of The Gambia” by enabling government to fund roads, public infrastructure, and national development.
The GRA boss told participants that for years the Authority has been on a journey to modernize tax and customs processes, enhance efficiency, and promote voluntary compliance. The ITAS, he said, represents a fundamental shift in tax administration.
“In simple terms, ITAS is a comprehensive, secure, web-based platform designed to revolutionize how we collect taxes in The Gambia,” he explained. “This system, once launched, will not only be an upgrade of our current system, but it is also a complete overhaul that moves our core services online.”
He outlined four key services taxpayers will access through ITAS: E-Registration to register businesses online instantly; E-Filing to submit returns from any location at any time; E-Payment through secure online channels; and E-Funds to process refunds more efficiently.
According to the Commissioner General, the system will reduce compliance time and effort, enhance transparency, minimize human error, and create a clear digital footprint for all transactions. “This is the future of tax administration – a future that is digital, efficient, and built on the principles of service, transparency and integrity,” he said.
The GRA boss stressed that technology alone will not guarantee success. “It rests on the people who use it. As big players in the economy and participants in a booming industry, your understanding, feedback, and ultimate adoption of ITAS are paramount to its success,” he told manufacturers.
He expressed confidence that ITAS will usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and efficiency, reduce compliance burden, minimize opportunities for fraud and corruption, and ultimately boost domestic revenue mobilization.
The Commissioner General concluded by thanking participants for their time and urged the business community to support a smooth national transition. He then officially declared the workshop open.
The sensitization forms part of GRA’s stakeholder engagement ahead of the full rollout of ITAS across the tax system.
