The Ghana Income Authority (GRA) has ordered all monetary establishments, cellular cash operators, and different charging entities to instantly refund any E-Levy deductions made on transactions from April 2, 2025, onward.
The directive follows the official abolition of the controversial 1% Digital Switch Levy (E-Levy) after President John Mahama assented to the Digital Switch Levy Act, 2022 (Act 1075) and its modification, Act 1089.
The E-Levy, which had been a serious level of rivalry since its introduction, is now formally scrapped.
However whereas Ghanaians have a good time the removing of the tax, the GRA is making it clear: any wrongful deductions have to be refunded instantly—or face the implications.
The GRA’s directive is agency: any establishment that fails to course of refunds promptly will face sanctions.
The regulatory physique has instructed all charging entities to stop making use of the 1% E-Levy cost instantly on all digital transactions, expedite refunds for any deductions constructed from April 2, 2025 and submit stories of all refunds processed to the GRA for accountability.
In a press release, Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, Commissioner of the Home Tax Income Division, warned that compliance checks could be carried out frequently to make sure that no establishment tries to carry onto unlawfully deducted funds.
“Failure to adjust to these directives constitutes an offence, and sanctions can be imposed as prescribed by legislation,” he cautioned.
To stop additional deductions, the GRA Digital Switch Levy Administration and Assurance System (ELMAS) has been reconfigured to robotically return a “no cost” response on all transactions.
Which means that from April 2, 2025, no E-Levy needs to be deducted on any cellular cash, financial institution switch, or different digital transactions.
Whereas clients are entitled to instant refunds for wrongful deductions, the GRA additionally reminded charging entities that they have to settle all excellent E-Levy funds for transactions carried out earlier than April 2.
To make sure full compliance, the GRA has warned of extreme penalties for any charging entity that fails to comply with the directives. Establishments are additionally required to take care of digital switch information for not less than six years as per Part 27(3) of the Income Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915).
They’re to proceed posting digital transactions to ELMAS till additional discover and likewise adhere to strict reporting tips set by the GRA.
With the abolition of the E-Levy now in full impact, any delay in processing refunds won’t be tolerated.
The GRA has arrange an E-Levy Technical Help Staff to help with compliance, nevertheless it has made it clear: there can be no excuses.
The Authority encourages anybody who notices wrongful deductions to instantly report the problem to their service supplier and demand a refund.
“Any failure to refund deducted funds needs to be reported on to the GRA,” it added.
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