The major tax administration body in the Gambia is the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), which is in charge of collecting taxes and other forms of payment on behalf of the government. The Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs was replaced by the GRA, which went into operation in January 2006. This was after being established by the Gambia Revenue Authority Act of 2004.
The commissioner general of the GRA, who is chosen by the president of the Gambia, is in charge of the organization’s overall management and administration. A deputy commissioner general and other top officials support the commissioner general.
Due to their exceptional performance, they have mobilized around 20% of the GDP and 80% of government revenue. The Authority, as a service provider, continues to work hard to satisfy the needs of its cherished clients, without whose support and collaboration, revenue mobilization would be a challenging undertaking. As a result, they keep improving their offerings and make an effort to be closer to you wherever you may be to increase compliance.
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Functions
They are entrusted with the following responsibilities:
Collection of revenue
For the benefit of the Gambia government, the GRA’s main duty is to collect money. In addition to value-added tax (VAT), excise tax, and customs duty, the authority also collects taxes on income, real estate, and commodities and services. In addition to collecting taxes, the GRA also collects fees and fines.
Administering tax laws
Tax law administration and enforcement in the Gambia are the purviews of the GRA. To make sure that taxpayers are fulfilling their tax duties, this involves carrying out audits, investigations, and compliance checks. To help taxpayers comply with their tax obligations and comprehend their rights and responsibilities, the authority also offers taxpayer education and assistance services.
Implementation of custom laws
The GRA is in charge of putting the Gambia’s customs legislation into effect and enforcing them. This includes enforcing compliance with customs laws, administering and collecting customs duties, and stopping smuggling and other illicit acts.
Managing tax and customs administration systems
In addition to collecting taxes and enforcing them, the GRA is in charge of overseeing the Gambia’s tax and customs administration systems. This entails creating and putting into practice policies and processes to increase the efficacy and efficiency of revenue collection as well as managing the authority’s information technology infrastructure.
Promoting economic development
The Gambia’s economic progress is significantly aided by the GRA. The authority collaborates closely with other governmental organizations and stakeholders to create programs and policies that encourage foreign direct investment, commerce, and corporate expansion in the nation. This entails assisting firms with advice and support, advocating tax breaks and other investment possibilities, and working with international organizations to advance economic development and progress.
Improve revenue collection and compliance
The GRA has improved revenue collection and compliance in the Gambia as one of its top focuses. The authority has taken some steps to achieve this, including putting in place a state-of-the-art system for handling taxes and customs and building a sizable database of taxpayers. Also, the opening of taxpayer service centers to offer help and support to taxpayers.
Several initiatives have also been put in place by the authority to encourage voluntary compliance and lessen instances of tax evasion and avoidance. To better serve high-value taxpayers, this includes implementing electronic filing and payment systems and using data analytics and risk assessment tools to detect and pursue non-compliant taxpayers.
Conclusion
The Gambia Revenue Authority, which is in charge of collecting money for the government, enforcing tax and customs rules, and fostering economic growth, is an essential organization in the Gambia. The authority is essential in helping the government create a robust economy and in making sure that all individuals and businesses are doing their fair share to advance the nation.
