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Khurshid Sattaur
Commissioner General
Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote compliance with Guyana’s Tax, Trade and Border Laws and Regulations through education, quality service and responsible enforcement, thereby contributing to the economic and social well being of the people of Guyana. |
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Public Communications Specialist
Tel: (592) 227-3680
ext 222 |
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GRA takes tough action against defaulting VAT Registrants- Obtains $37M civil judgment
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has once again filed a statement of amounts due as Value-Added Tax (VAT) from Friendship Hotel and Restaurant Holdings Limited of Lot 1 public Road, Ruimveldt in the High Court, apart from sixty (60) charges on nine other businesses.
The statement filed against Friendship Hotel and Restaurant Holdings Limited revealed that the company owed the GRA $37,648,739.00 as VAT and interest for three consecutive periods: September to November 2007.
The company, which has the franchise for KFC and Pizza Hut was previously slapped with a similar judgment for $45.1M also spanning a three month period; and has since appealed to the VAT Board of Review, which decision is pending a 32% payment of the outstanding taxes before the board hears the matter.
Additionally, five persons appeared at the Linden Magistrate Court to answer charges of failing to issue Tax Invoices in conformity with the VAT law. Four (Star Bonnet Hotel, Paddy’s General Store, Majid’s Esso Service Centre and Richard’s Cheap Corner) pleaded guilty to the charge while one, R. Foredyce and sons entered a not guilty plea and is to return to court on the 6th of May for trial.
Meanwhile, GRA has filed sixty charges against nine other businesses for failure to file VAT returns in addition to numerous other VAT related charges currently engaging the attention of the court.
Legal Officer for GRA, Mr. Andrew Girdhari said that they are preparing to file another two hundred and twenty-two charges against twenty-four businesses for also failing to file VAT returns.
He noted that the ratio of offences to businesses shows that there is some disregard for the law, as many persons repeatedly commit the same offence.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur is adamant that the authority will continue its aggressive enforcement action against businesses who think they can break the law with impunity and get away with it.
He said that the GRA has an obligation to ensure that the various tax laws are up held and that the revenue of the state is protected, noting that while the non issuance of Tax Invoices has been a prevalent infraction of the law, there continue to be breaches of several other sections such as failure to remit tax and file returns.
The VAT Act calls for strict accountability and compliance on the part of businesses as the system is one that allows registrants to assess their own tax liability.
The GRA will continue to work with businesses, providing training and assistance where necessary to ensure compliance before resorting to the court.
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© Copyright 2005-2009 Guyana Revenue Authority. All rights reserved. |
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