In its quest to achieve the 21 billion cedi target for this year, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is moving into the retail markets to ensure that traders comply with the tax laws of the country.

The authority is this time embarking on what it calls “Test Purchases” to clamp down on those failing to issue VAT invoices to buyers.

The move is part of GRA’s strategy to achieve government’s goal of improving tax collection by widening the tax net.

Maxell Tastsu, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Debt Management and Compliance Enforcement Unit at the GRA, told Joy Business that officers from the authority have been going to the markets as ordinarily consumers to buy.

The officers, with the support of the police, have been “taking action” against persons who fail to issue VAT invoices.

He said offenders would either be prosecuted or made to pay penalty.