The Ghana Revenue Authority has revealed that state-owned GIHOC Distilleries has defaulted in paying taxes to the state, even though it files its tax returns.
The GRA stormed the premises of GIHOC Thursday in an attempt to lock up the facility which owes taxes to the tune of GHC182 million.
The company however hurriedly mobilised some GHC1.1million to the inspecting GRA officials to avoid a shut down today.
The state company has been in the practice of not paying taxes for over 5 years leading to huge revenue shortfalls.
Several attempts to retrieve the tax has proven futile leading to the near closure of the firm today.
The team from the GRA however reached an agreement with the management of GIHOC in order to ensure that the rest of the money is paid.
Meanwhile, the GRA today locked up Pasico Ghana for nonpayment of taxes.
The company is known to be the best producer of aluminum frames and Louvre blades; the most popular is the Pasiguard security grills.
It also deals the selling and hiring of lifting equipment and building materials.
According to the GRA, the company which has been in existence since 1948 owes taxes to the tune of about GHC4.8 million.
The taxes have been outstanding since 2015.
The taxes comprise of VAT and Pay as You Earn.
Efforts to retrieve the taxes have been unsuccessful leading to the distress action, the GRA said.
Staff of the company, numbering over 100 were asked to leave the premises as their offices where locked in the early ours of Thursday, October 24, 2019.
The GRA has given the company sometime to settle the debt or their properties will be confiscated by government.
The move by the GRA is part of efforts to ensure tax compliance to boost state revenue.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Osei Owusu Amankwaah