Registrar General to sanction businesses that failed to file annual returns

The Registrar General’s Department will from Wednesday (1st February 2017) sanction all business operators who have not filed their annual returns and updates.

In July 2016, the Registrar General started implanting measures to get all business owners file their annual returns as required by law. This was also to get rid of the records of all non-existent businesses in the country.

A December 31, 2016 deadline was given by the Department to sanction business owners who flouted the law.

But after some pleading from the business owners, the Department extended the deadline to January 31, 2017.

Despite the extension some business owners have still not been able to file their tax returns as at the given deadline.

But the Public Relations Officer at the Registrar General’s department, Constance Adomaa Takyi told Accra-based Citi FM that the department will not extend the deadline any further.

“They have always come to plead for extension and we have listened. This was supposed to have ended on 31st December so we have given enough notices so I think we have done enough. Maybe not everyone might have heard it but that will still not prevent us from starting the penalty.” she said.

According to the Registrar General, companies and partnerships who have failed to file their tax returns by January 31, 2017, will pay a penalty of GH₵300.00 for each month that the entity defaults in addition to the statutory fees for which they are required to pay.