Sunyani, Feb. 1, GNA - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the Brong=96Ahafo Region exceeded its target for 2010 by 10 per cent as it collected GHC 9, 982, 819.10 in revenue above the estimated GH C9, 026,501.94.

Mr. Nicholas Ofori Yeboah, the Brong=96Ahafo Regional Director of the Service, told the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani in an interview that the revenue collection performance for the year under review showed a growth of 35.66 per cent as against 26. 98 per cent registered in 2009. He said the general improvement in the supply of logistics with the inception of the Ghana Revenue Authority had had enhanced operations. "We have tools for our work and we have been provided with internet connectivity and services, as well as fax machines to the districts and thi= s has improved communication tremendously," Mr Yeboah said. He said the main problem was lack of tax consciousness or regular payment of tax by the people.

Mr Yeboah stressed the need for more tax education to sensitize the public about the difference between income tax and the collection of levies and fees by the district and metropolitan assemblies. On the issue of whether or not churches must be made to pay tax, he stated that churches were not supposed to pay tax since offerings were non-taxable.

He said the earnings of an employee of a well-established church becom= e taxable as soon as it becomes an income.

Mr. Yeboah said IRS had realized that well established churches did no= t honour their tax obligations even though they had employees and also failed to declare what they earned in order for the Service to know what to deduct or what was taxable.