Two million Ghanaians have so far signed on to the new strategy the government introduced to collect tax since 2018

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)), Emmanuel Kofi Nti disclosed in an interview with Accra based Citi FM.

According to Mr Nti, the strategy to introduce the TIN had improved tax collection across the country.

He said that as of December 2018, the number of persons with a TIN was only hundreds away from reaching two million.

"The TIN has helped, as of December 2017, the people on the TIN were 1,017,384. Close to the end of December (2018) we were just, less than 400 away from two million and the performances of the small taxpayer offices are indicative of the role of the TIN registration if the enforcement is done," Mr Nti said.

"In that, there has been improvement in the collection from the self-employed area within the small taxpayer offices across the country."

The Tax Identification Number (TIN)

The TIN is a unique 11-digit number required under the Revenue Administration Act (RAA) 2016 (Act 915) which enables taxpayers to transact business with ease. It is part of efforts to improve tax compliance and broaden the tax net.

In accordance with the RAA, the GRA is mandated to set up a taxpayer identification numbering system for the purpose of identifying taxpayers and promoting tax compliance.

The implementation of the RAA took effect on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

The list of institutions listed under the RAA to apply the TIN included, the Registrar-General’s Department, the Lands Commission, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Passport Office, the DVLA, the courts, the Controller and Accountant- General’s Department and the GRA.

The rest are ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, manufacturing companies and other public institutions that provide essential and social services.