The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced that it is piloting an online and e-commerce revenue mobilisation system as part of efforts to expand the country’s tax net.

According to the Authority, the growing digital economy has created a surge in online businesses and startups, making it necessary to develop new mechanisms for tracking and collecting taxes from such platforms.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Minister of State in charge of Public Sector Reforms, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, said the new system will enable the Authority to identify and monitor online business activities for effective revenue collection.

“We are also looking at the digital economy side because the businesses and individuals are moving online… So we are at the moment piloting an online technology that will help us to identify e-commerce and other emerging online businesses,” Mr. Sarpong explained.

He added that the GRA is preparing to launch a modified taxation model by November 5, aimed at enhancing revenue generation from the informal sector.

Under the new model, informal sector businesses with annual earnings of up to GH¢500,000 will be required to pay a 3% tax rate.

The GRA believes this initiative will help capture more businesses within the tax net and boost domestic revenue mobilisation.