Payment of taxes ‘tremendous’

– GRA boss urges greater compliance
Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur is calling on non-compliant taxpayers to submit their returns and in expressing appreciation to those who have honored their obligation he noted that “the payment of taxes has been tremendous”.
Sattaur in a GRA press release said that persons who have missed the April 30, 2010 deadline for the submission of Income, Capital Gains, Corporation and Property Tax returns are encouraged to do so urgently.

While the tax sites that were set up across the country to facilitate the filing  of returns are no longer in operation, persons can still submit returns and pay their taxes in Georgetown at GRA’s offices located at Albert and Charlotte Streets, and the Guyana Post Office Building, Robb Street.

And persons living outside Georgetown can submit their returns and make tax payments at GRA’s Regional Offices in New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Parika, Anna Regina and Linden.
Persons requiring information or assistance regarding the filing of returns and payment of taxes may contact the GRA’s Help Desk at telephone number 227-7927, extension 221 or visit the Communication and Tax Advisory Services Division, Albert and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner-General has reiterated that there are penalties for filing returns on income after the due date. He said that failure to submit returns by the date stipulated will incur penalties pursuant to Section 99 (2) and (3) of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01.

Therefore persons filing returns late will be required to pay a penalty of two per cent of the tax assessed.

Further, where no return is submitted and a notice is issued demanding the return within a specific time, and the taxpayer fails to comply, such a person will be required to pay a penalty of five per cent of the tax assessed.    Additionally, interest at the “market rate” will be charged on all late payment of taxes, the release concluded.