The Gambia Revenue Authority has warned importers against tax evasion. 

Speaking at the the official opening of a three-day engagement that brought together importers and agents from the clearing & forwarding agencies, Yankuba Darboe, commissioner general of Gambia Revenue Authority, said: “One thing that needs to be clear to everyone who does an economic activity in this country, you are supposed to pay tax. 

“If you are hiding and not paying taxes, it is a matter of time but we will get you. And by the time we get you, you will not be happy. So, why not come forward and pay your taxes before it gets late.”

He added: “Whether you (agents) are here or not, if you are hiding there with a business activity and you are not paying your taxes, I will advise you to come-out from hiding and pay – because if GRA should come for you, the end result will not be good. 

“So, I want you to extend this message to those who are not here to ensure that we join our hands together and pay our fair taxes.”

He urged the importers or clearing agents to be submitting original documents during their declarations, saying this would help improve transparency and accountability between forwarding agencies.  

“We need to work with you but we want to work with you genuinely in the sense that some of you (clearing agents) who are representing the importers, we expect you to be submitting original documents such as invoices, parking-list and so on. 

“Once you submit all that during your declaration, you will not have any issue with the GRA or with Customs. 

“You (clearing agents) are our partners. We would rather encourage you, than to put you in trouble. Also, we are not out there to course problems to any importers or agents but rather we want a mutual relationship that would exist between us and you,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba