Africa Automobile To Vomit Over GH�6M

It is an almost closed loop yet chalking magnificent gains to the State as, following the review of the Auditor General�s report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has moved to retrieve from Africa Automobile Limited (AAL), an amount of six million, one hundred and seventy four thousand, seven hundred and fifty Ghana Cedis (GH�6,174,750), being total tax liability on corporate tax on undisclosed interest, and penalty. Documents available to the New Crusading Guide newspaper, dated August 27, 2012, and signed by Lydia Amamoo, Acting Commissioner-DTRD, therefore warned that, �Your are by copy of this letter requested to pay to the Ghana Revenue Authority an Amount of GH�6,174,750 within thirty (30) days after the receipt of this letter�. Africa Automobile Ltd, the company that has been in and out of court since 2005, battling government over a purported breach of contract in the importation of some 87 galloper vehicles thereby; demanding $1.5 billion, as damages for allegedly losing its franchise for the importation of Mitsubishi vehicles into the country, according to GRA, received from the Government of Ghana an interest of GH�8,233,000.00 on an overdue principal amount of GH�145,652.00, but refused to disclose the amount for tax purposes. The State�s revenue collection agency revealed that in furtherance of the revelation of (AAL�s) returns; that had actuated up to 2009 and self assessment returns for the years 2010, 2011 & 2012 were examined, hence the revelation of undisclosed taxes. GRA stated in the letter, that, �We have therefore computed the taxes payable on the interest received and added same to your corporate tax liability in accordance with section 79 (@) of the Internal Revenue Act 2000, Act 592. The details are as follows: GHC Undisclosed Interest Receipts 8,233,000 Tax thereon @ 25% 2,058,250� Subsequent to the aforesaid, GRA continued, �We have imposed penalty on your computer for failing to disclose the interest received in its returns in line with section 145 of the Interest Revenue Act 2000 Act 592 which states inter alia �a person who makes a statement to an officer of GRA that is false or misleading in a material particular is liable to pay a penalty equal to where the statement or omission is made without reasonable excuse, double the underpayment of tax which may result if the inaccuracy of the statement were undetected�. Underpayment of tax 2,058,250 Penalty thereon @ 200% 4,116,500 Total Direct Tax Payable Your tax liability as a result of the above is made up of: Corporate tax on undisclosed interest 2,058250 Penalty 4,116,500 Total 6,174,750 The preceding findings by the GRA however, has nothing to do with the Gallopers saga, which is not yet before the Public Accounts Committe (PAC).