The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has directed all financial institutions and electronic money operators to cease the collection of the 1% Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) and to promptly refund any deductions made after its official repeal on April 2, 2025.
The Authority said customers who notice unauthorized E-Levy deductions after April 2 are advised to contact their respective financial service providers for immediate resolution.
This directive follows the assent of the repeal bill by President John Mahama, fulfilling a campaign promise to abolish the levy.
Mr Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division, emphasized the necessity for strict compliance.
He said GRA has reconfigured its Electronic Transfer Levy Management and Assurance System (ELMAS) to automatically return a “no charge” response on all transactions, ensuring that no further E-Levy deductions occur.
However, the Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, speaking to the media at the GRA retreat on Thursday, April 3, 2025, reaffirmed that individuals who are still being deducted for e-levy as at the hours of 23:00h would have their monies refunded.
The Commissioner General said the Authority has held an engagement with telcos to scrap the e-levy off. “We all know we are dealing with technology, so this would take sometime”, he added.
Moreover, financial institutions and mobile money platforms are required to cease charging the 1% levy across all channels, establish expedited processes to refund any E-Levy amounts deducted from customers after the repeal date and maintain proper documentation of all refunds, file and remit all outstanding E-Levy charges collected before April 2 to avoid penalties.
Furthermore, the Authority said telcos are to report all electronic transfer transactions to the GRA’s ELMAS until further notice, as mandated by Section 33A of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915).
The GRA has warned that failure to adhere to these directives will result in sanctions as prescribed by law.
This move aims to ensure a smooth transition following the levy’s repeal and to maintain public trust in the financial system.
In contrast, the E-Levy, introduced in May 2022, faced significant public opposition and was a contentious issue in Ghanaian politics.
Hence, its abolition is seen as a response to widespread calls for the removal of taxes perceived as burdensome by citizens.
Source: thehighstreetjournal.com
