Freetown — The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Administration Unit in the National Revenue Authority (NRA) is currently on a massive enforcement drive of the GST laws. This includes closure of shops for erring tax payers. The GST Unit is also imposing a fine on businesses with improper receipts. The fine is Le5, 000,000 (five million Leones) for each receipt that is not done according to law.

Each GST business should issue out to its clients and customers a receipt that shows the name and address of the registered business, plus, an authentic Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by the NRA, and a lettered indication that GST would be deducted. The GST Unit has been enforcing the laws on those businesses that should by law be registered with the GST Unit but have failed to do so.

Also not escaping their dragnet are those businesses that have registered, and have been withholding GST on behalf of the NRA, but, have failed to hand over such GST money within the time stipulated by law. The uncompromising stance of the GST Unit has resulted in compliance rate increasing from 65% to 75% during the first six months of this year.

Since the inception of GST in January this year, revenue collected has been Le120billion (one hundred and twenty billion Leones), which, according to reliable sources in the GST, has meant a 'thirty percent' increase in revenues over corresponding tax areas in previous years.