The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has debunked stories on social media that from today, Friday, 1st July 2022, it will begin charging E-Levy on merchant SIMs.

The Revenue authority also described as misleading, other reports suggesting that Cash-Ins or deposits made through a merchant or vendor will attract E-Levy.

In a statement, the GRA reacted as follows:

1.       Under Section 2 (2) (d) of the Electronic Transfer Levy Act, 2022 (Act 1075), the Levy does not apply to Specified Merchant Payments. Specified Merchant Payments are payments made to merchants through a payment service to a person registered with the GRA for the purposes of Income Tax or Value Added Tax (VAT). Customers making payments to such specified merchants will NOT be charged the E-Levy.

2.       The general public should note that E-Levy is NOT charged on merchant SIMs, as is being purported. The E-Levy is only charged on a transfer from a customer to a Specified Merchant if the merchant is NOT registered with GRA for Income Tax or VAT purposes.

3.       The E-Levy does not apply to Cash-Outs/cash withdrawals and Cash-Ins/cash deposits either at the bank or at a mobile money agent/vendor point. This means that Cash-Ins or deposits do not attract E-Levy and customers are NOT to pay any amount as E-Levy at a mobile money agent/vendor point.

The revenue authority also encouraged individuals to register for their Ghana Card and update their mobile money wallets and bank accounts with their Ghana Card Personal Identification Number (PIN), and merchants to register with GRA for Income Tax or VAT so their customers can enjoy E-Levy exemptions.