–GRA
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says its Remission Unit is not exempt from internal/external audits as alleged by a recent media report.
In a press release the GRA said the Unit, which has the primary function of dispensing with the remission of taxes to qualifying persons, has been a part of its administration since 2003. It said the Fiscal and Financial Accountability Act of 2003 paved the way for its establishment and like all of its other units and departments it is subject to internal and external audits.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Internal Audit Ulanie Jack said audits of the Unit have been on target and a 2007 audit started with the interviews and systems documents aspects of the programme. This segment has already been completed and the field work that has started is expected to be finished shortly.
Additionally, every year the Unit is required to publish a statement of remission of taxes granted, the GRA said. In 2007 a statement of Import Duty, Consumption Tax and Purchase Tax exemptions granted to public officers, re-migrants, and companies from January 1 to December 31, 2006 was published in the national papers on September 5 and 9. The Unit has also been audited by the Auditor General’s office.
According to the GRA the Unit also has adequate systems in place to address issues arising from transactions with eligible persons. It said too that over the years, persons who encountered difficulties would have visited its office to have matters resolved. It said a system had been installed that provides reconciliation with entries processed at the Customs and Trade Administration daily.
The Unit has also been engaged in post evaluation and approval exercises including visits to businesses and the premises of persons who benefit from tax and duty exemptions to ensure that the items are used for their intended purposes.
The GRA said the statements that auditors were prevented from auditing the Unit are a deliberate attempt to tarnish its image stemming from a multi-agency investigation into an alleged collusion between its officers and some businesses.
