Tax can feel frightening, but the basics are straightforward. Understanding them helps you plan prices, avoid penalties, and answer when a buyer, lender or support programme asks about your tax position. This lesson gives the general picture. For anything specific, check with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The Ghana Revenue Authority
The GRA collects taxes in Ghana. Its website, gra.gov.gh, explains tax types, registration and payment, and it has offices across the country.
Your tax number
Every taxpayer has a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The GRA states that for individuals, the PIN on your Ghana Card is now your TIN. This PIN is the personal ID number printed on the card, not a secret code like your mobile money PIN. So if you have a Ghana Card, you already have your personal tax number, and a sole trader uses it too. Companies and other organisations get their own TIN from the GRA.
Simplified tax for small traders
The GRA runs a Modified Taxation Scheme for individuals in the informal sector, such as traders, food vendors, tailors and craftspeople, who earn from skills, crafts or sales. In general:
- It has categories based on the size of your annual sales. The smallest businesses pay a fixed amount, while larger ones pay based on their sales or their profit.