The tax revenue collection mobilised by the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) domestic division and processed through the Ghana Community Network Systems Limited’s (GCNet) Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (trips) in 2017 has hit GH¢16 billion.

This is according to figures available to thebftonline.com from the systems operator (GCNet) and it represents a 32% increase over the same period in 2016.

In the past four years, the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (trips) which was deployed by GCNet, suggests that the domestic tax collection in the country has seen a sustained increase from ¢3 billion that was recorded in 2014, to almost ¢9 billion in 2015 and to almost ¢12 billion in 2016.

It is also worth pointing out that, the increase in tax collection through trips contributing to the overall domestic tax revenue has been achieved with the further deployment of more than 45 new offices by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in 2017 bringing the total number of Live Offices now using the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System to 59.

The trips is software for tax administration under the e-Government project headed by the Ministry of Communication under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance which seeks to streamline and bring transparency to the business operations of the GRA Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD).

December 2017 recorded the highest monthly revenue collection of ¢2.6billion in trips, followed by the second highest of ¢1.7billion in Sept 2017.

This can be compared to the same period in 2016 when ¢1.5billion and ¢1.1billion were mobilised respectively.

Data available also indicates that monthly collection was over the ¢1billion threshold in ten months of the year with February and May being slightly lower.

The operationalisation of 59 out of 69 tax offices represents a nationwide presence, which has facilitated enhanced coverage in terms of the tax net, enabling greater revenue mobilisation.

The nationwide roll-out is a landmark achievement for the GRA and the country marking the first time that Ghana has had a nationwide computerised tax system.

The expanded roll out of trips, across all offices of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority nationwide, will enhance revenue mobilisation efforts in 2018, helping to meet national development needs.

The deployment of trips is part of the bigger e-Government solution developed and deployed concurrently for the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Registrar General’s Department in 2011 by Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet), with a self-service portal that provides online services to Citizens.

The system supports a full range of tax Administration functions including Registration, Returns Processing, Automated Compliance, Collections, Taxpayer Accounting, Revenue Accounting, Refunds, Risk Management, Case Management, Audit, Objections and Appeals.

GCNet is a Public-Private Partnership that was incorporated on November 13, 2000. Its shareholders are Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Ecobank Ghana Limited (EBG), Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) of Switzerland.

The company, an Innovator and Leader in the Provision of e-Solutions to Governments, has developed and deployed Ghana’s Single Window Platform for Processing Trade Transactions and Customs Clearances