The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said several businesses are under investigation over complaints of consumers being swindled, but urged consumers to be more vigilant when making purchases.
Commissioner General of GRA, Khursid Sattaur, said consumers have the power to stamp out irregular business practices by ensuring that they obtain a receipt of purchase every time since this can help expose unscrupulous practices.
According to a GRA press release, Sattaur said that there were reports of prominent food outlets having more than one till machine, adding that while there were proper businesses practicing transparent accounting practices, there were others seemingly still bent on being unaccountable by employing such systems in their operations.
“The GRA vows to expose these criminals offenders who continue to swindle consumers and rob the state through these deceptive acts perpetrated on unsuspecting consumers,” Sattaur said in a GRA press release.
The release quoted Sattaur as saying that GRA compliance and audit departments have not withdrawn from such activities and that there are several businesses under investigation.
GRA said it would mount billboards around the country shortly to keep reminding consumers to demand receipts for their purchases.
The revenue body said that only recently businessman Harri Mattai had informed GRA that consumers refuse to accept their invoices but later want to make enquiries without any bill to refer to. From a VAT registrant’s perspective, he pointed out the importance of obtaining and issuing invoices, to show proof of purchase and sales which is critical to claiming VAT refunds, from which VAT registrants benefit.
Mattai also encouraged consumers to collect their receipts and assess them not only to ensure that the correct tax is applied but also to monitor the prices over time.
GRA added that businesses need to be fair to customers, engage in transparent and accountable practices.
