The exercise, which began on Wednesday, is also to help widen the tax net and increase tax compliance in the areas of registration, filing of tax returns, and payment of taxes due for increased revenue to undertake development.

As part of the exercise, staffs of GRA have been deployed to the Tamale Central Business District amongst other business facilities in the metropolis to educate operators on the need to honour their tax obligations as well as register others to pay tax.

Mr Harruna Sachibu, Head of Tamale Medium Tax Office of GRA, who gave details of the exercise, warned those operating underground that the GRA would go all out to fish them out and invoke as well as impose the necessary penalties on them.

Statistics shows that out of the four million taxable population, only two million honour their tax obligations. Mr Sachibu said “This situation is not only unfair but also against the directive principle of state policy of the Constitution, which requires every citizen to declare their income honestly and satisfy all tax obligations.”

He, therefore, appeals to all liable to pay taxes or from whom taxes were withheld at source by employers or agents through payroll deductions to collect Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) to pay tax. He said per the Revenue Administration Act, without TIN, “One cannot carry out activities such as clearing goods in commercial quantities from the port or factory, registering any title to land, interest in land or any document affecting land, obtain tax clearance certificate, receive payment from the Controller and Accountant General or district assemblies.

He advised business operators to voluntarily register their operations to pay the due taxes to avoid penalties.