Mahama Welcomes New Tax Reforms For Presidents

President John Mahama has declared support for the proposal that the President, Vice President and public office holders pay tax to the state. According to the President the move is laudable and he fully supports it. �The President�s income, as President, is exempt from taxes and the Constitution Review Implementation Committee has made the recommendation to make the President�s official income taxable and I think it�s a good thing and I support it�. Moves to get the President, Vice President and public office holders to pay tax to the state is part of a draft bill submitted by the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to the Attorney-General. The current 1992 Constitution exempts Presidents from paying tax but the provision has been criticized, with demands for its review. Speaking at the Flagstaff house during the filling of his tax returns, President Mahama urged Ghanaians to also pay their taxes. He affirmed government�s commitment to use the tax pool to enhance the country�s growth and development. President Mahama further clarified on the specific items on which he was filing the tax returns. �I receive royalties on my book and I also have extra income from some agricultural activity that I undertake with my family� he explained. Meanwhile, the GRA has also welcomed the proposal by the Constitution Review Implementation Committee for the President, Vice-President and public office holders to pay tax to the state. The authority commended the President for showing leadership in paying regularly his tax returns. According to the Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the GRA, Comfort Boohene, it is committed to widening the tax net of the country to increase the revenue pool of the country.