Home | Goldstreet Business
Sunday, May 25, 2025
  • Home
  • General News
    • Extractives
    • Auto
  • Business
    • Banking and Finance
    • AgriBusiness
    • Insurance
    • Mining
    • Oil and Gas
    • Real Estate/Housing
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Agriculture
    • Maritime/Aviation
    • Energy
    • Education
    • Construction
  • Technology
    • ICT
    • Telecom
  • World
    • Africa
    • International
  • Editorial/Features
  • GSB Data Services
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • General News
    • Extractives
    • Auto
  • Business
    • Banking and Finance
    • AgriBusiness
    • Insurance
    • Mining
    • Oil and Gas
    • Real Estate/Housing
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Agriculture
    • Maritime/Aviation
    • Energy
    • Education
    • Construction
  • Technology
    • ICT
    • Telecom
  • World
    • Africa
    • International
  • Editorial/Features
  • GSB Data Services
No Result
View All Result
Gold Business Logo
No Result
View All Result

Is your Finance Function Tax-Effective?

July 9, 2018
in Uncategorized
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

At the heart of every organisation is a finance function. It is equivalent to an engine room, or even a factory floor, and when things go wrong in finance, an entire organisation can shut down. At times, C -suite executives and management, worry about how effective their finance function is. Questions often arise such as: Are there enough staff?  Do staff have the requisite accounting and finance qualifications?  Are financial reports in correct order and format? Are the figures factually correct and reflective of the current state of affairs of the business?

As someone who works closely with finance professionals and CEOs, and also having occupied a similar role in the past, I appreciate how important these questions are. However, one question which needs to be asked but is often ignored is: “How tax-effective is your finance function?”

RELATED POSTS

NPP Deserves Some Credit For Cedi Stability – Prof. Bokpin

Ghana Stock Exchange records over 30% growth in 2025 Q1; best securities market in West Africa

Tax is wonderful and strange at the same time. Without having an in-depth understanding of the subject matter, it is nearly impossible to see the impact of an organisation’s finance related actions on its tax affairs and therefore its total tax cost.

For clarity, let me set the scene with a fictional finance team in three different scenarios. The team is made up of a qualified and very experienced CFO, a finance manager and four finance executives all with various responsibilities within the team.

Scenario 1

Executive A is responsible for updating and maintaining the fixed asset register with all acquisitions and disposals. The executive enters all the information in the accounting system as required, however, sometimes he incorrectly categorises the office furniture along with the laptops and printers. He doesn’t think this is an issue as it is all going to the same place, and doesn’t bother to report his error to his supervisor.

Tax impact: Assets have specific categorisations for capital allowances purposes which tend to be different from accounting norms. Incorrect postings such as the one stated above, have the impact of the organisation claiming more capital allowances than they should and therefore paying less corporate taxes. The larger the amounts and number of transactions involved, the higher the risk of tax underpayments occurring. Sometimes, the inverse could occur and the organisation could end up paying more taxes than necessary. Neither outcome is desirable.

Scenario 2

The finance manager is in charge of the monthly payroll calculations and she has been doing this diligently for the last two years. However, she is not aware that the tax bands have recently been widened and also that the training and clothes allowances given to senior staff are taxable.

Tax impact: Widening tax bands means that the amount of income taxed at a particular level is increased which effectively means people end up paying marginally less tax. Not taxing allowances of any kind (no matter what they are called) is incorrect and effectively in this instance, taxes are being underpaid.

Scenario 3

One of the finance executives within the finance team resigns. As a result of this, there is a backlog in the collection of all the withholding tax credit certificates from suppliers. A rough estimate indicates that this could be in the region of GHS 2 million, however, there is a chance that the amount is much higher as there is no effective tracking system in place.

Tax impact: Withholding tax is effectively tax paid in advance and should be offset against future corporate tax payments. In essence, the company has GHS 2 million in taxes paid in advance which they are not using. This is a cash-flow nightmare which no serious -minded CFO should entertain or encourage.

As we can see from the three scenarios, tax is not something that should be ignored, but rather considered as an essential part of the corporate, finance and governance strategy of an organisation. Seeing things through a tax lens could save an organisation thousands or even millions of Ghana Cedis in tax payments, as well as plan their future tax transactions efficiently.

Formal tax strategy documents, tax risk policies and tax process manuals for management and staff, are necessary in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal. These documents are also required to ensure minimal knowledge is lost when inevitable staff attrition occurs.

So the next time you measure the key performance indicators in your organisation’s finance function, let tax be a key one in order to make your finance function become not just effective but tax- effective.

Ayesha Bedwei
facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

NPP Deserves Some Credit For Cedi Stability – Prof. Bokpin

NPP Deserves Some Credit For Cedi Stability – Prof. Bokpin

May 22, 2025
Ghana Stock Exchange records over 30% growth in 2025 Q1; best securities market in West Africa

Ghana Stock Exchange records over 30% growth in 2025 Q1; best securities market in West Africa

May 22, 2025
19 key targets of government’s GH¢290 billion budget

Finance Ministry approves revised allowances for university senior staff unions

May 22, 2025
‘CJ’s Supreme Court move a provocation of committee’ – Ansa-Asare blasts Justice Torkornoo’s action

‘CJ’s Supreme Court move a provocation of committee’ – Ansa-Asare blasts Justice Torkornoo’s action

May 22, 2025
‘The fundamentals haven’t changed’ – Prof. Baah Boateng cautions against cedi hype

‘The fundamentals haven’t changed’ – Prof. Baah Boateng cautions against cedi hype

May 9, 2025
Next Post

Cheque frauds on the rise, even as banks turn to digitize systems

Blockchain technology to revolutionise land administration processes

Archives

<
May 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
▼
>
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829   
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728     
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28      
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
       
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829 
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728   
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       

RECOMMENDED

NPP Deserves Some Credit For Cedi Stability – Prof. Bokpin

NPP Deserves Some Credit For Cedi Stability – Prof. Bokpin

May 22, 2025
Ghana Stock Exchange records over 30% growth in 2025 Q1; best securities market in West Africa

Ghana Stock Exchange records over 30% growth in 2025 Q1; best securities market in West Africa

May 22, 2025

MOST VIEWED

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Energy
  • Health
  • Auto
  • International
  • Subscription Form
  • Staff Webmail
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Call us: +233 24 432 0902 | info@goldstreetbusiness.com

© Copyright © 2020 goldstreetbusiness.com. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Homepage Layout 1
    • Homepage Layout 2
  • World
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Health

© Copyright © 2020 goldstreetbusiness.com. All Rights Reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.