President Nana Akufo-Addo has said from today, 1st April 2021, and this is not an April fool’s prank, all National ID numbers will become Tax Identification Numbers.
He said in so doing, the number of people registered by GRA for tax purposes will increase from the current three million (3 million) to 15.5 million. I should recall that at the end of 2016, only 750,000 people had TIN numbers. The increase to 15.5 million in just four years is simply phenomenal.
In his state of the Nation Address on 9th March 2021, Nana Akufo-Addo said, Similarly, from the 2nd quarter of this year, all National ID numbers will also become SSNIT numbers. This will increase the number of people on the SSNIT database from four million (4 million) to 15.5 million, making it easier for new contributors to be enlisted on the scheme. The National ID numbers will also become NHIS numbers. Very soon, adding that Government will link the National ID to all SIM cards, bank accounts, Births and Deaths Registry, DVLA documents, and passports.
He noted that for the first time, we have enrolled 15.5 million people onto the National ID card system (the Ghanacard), and we will complete the process this year.
In a related development, the statement issued by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) said Ghana Card Personal Identification Number (Ghana Card PIN) is replacing the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of individuals
GRA made this known in a statement dated March 31, 2021, saying the replacement will take effect from Thursday, April 1, 2021.
According to the statement, “this change is in line with Government’s policy on the use of a unique identifier for all transactions where the Identification of an individual is required.”
It said to ensure a seamless roll-out of the initiative, several measures have been instituted including the stationing of registration officials of the National Identification Authority (NIA) across 14 GRA offices nationwide to register individuals who do not possess a Ghana Card.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
