GRA targets foreign income earners in new tax enforcement push
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intensified efforts to enforce tax compliance among residents earning income from abroad, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, revealed that the Authority has already dispatched over 1,000 letters to Ghanaians who hold assets and generate income overseas.
These notices require taxpayers to reconcile their foreign tax payments with obligations under Ghana’s tax laws.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual International Tax Conference in Accra, Mr Sarpong explained that the initiative is anchored on international data-sharing mechanisms, particularly the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework, which allows tax authorities across jurisdictions to share financial information on individuals and entities.
“This is an area where we have put it in a very high gear. We have a team that is strongly working on it because we are now plugged into the global network. Today, if you have investments, assets, and you are earning income outside Ghana, we do receive this information. Our work is to ensure that if they have paid taxes on those assets outside, we can now compare with what they ought to pay in Ghana, and if there is any differential, Ghana can also earn its fair share,” he stated.
According to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, the drive seeks to close long-standing compliance gaps that have undermined the country’s revenue mobilisation efforts.
While Ghanaians with offshore investments have traditionally escaped scrutiny, the globalisation of financial systems and cooperation between jurisdictions now makes it possible to track such incomes more effectively.
The GRA boss emphasised that enforcement in this area would not only enhance fairness in the tax system but also support the government’s ongoing fiscal consolidation programme.
With oil revenues showing volatility and expenditure pressures mounting, the Authority is prioritising non-oil domestic tax mobilisation as a reliable revenue stream.
Tax experts at the conference welcomed the GRA’s initiative, noting that the move aligns with international best practice.
“Countries across the world are strengthening enforcement on offshore incomes, and Ghana cannot be left behind. The principle is simple: if you are resident in Ghana and benefit from public services, you must contribute your fair share of taxes, regardless of whether your income is earned locally or abroad,” one expert remarked.
