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Ghana VAT on foreign digital services – update

VAT (Amendement) Act 2022 updates regulations on non-resident e-commerce rules

  • Confirms VAT on e-commerce
  • No VAT registration threshold for non-residents

VAT on foreign e-services providers since 2014

The West African country of Ghana imposed its Value Added Tax on non-resident providers of digital or electronic services to consumer from 1 January 2014. There is a VAT registration threshold of GHS 200,000 per annum (approx €28,000).

The current VAT rate in Ghana is 12.5%.  VAT Calc’s global VAT and GST on digital services blog keeps a live update on how countries are imposing indirect taxes on non-resident providers and electronic marketplaces.

What digital services are subject to Ghanaian VAT?

Income from the following digital services transmitted by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems is liable to Ghanaian VAT:

  • Electronic commerce
  • Data transmission
  • Website hosting
  • Streaming or download media (video, music etc)
  • E-learning
  • Images and text
  • Distance maintenance of programmes and equipment

VAT registration and returns

(Update: no registration threshold following 2022 VAT Amendment Act) If a non-resident passed the VAT registration threshold of GHS 200,000 per annum then they should register with the Commissioner-General of the URA. Or GHS 50,000 in three months and with reasonable grounds to exceed turnover of GHS 150,000 in the next nine months. A VAT agent is likely to be required.

Once VAT registered, VAT returns are required on a monthly basis. These should be filed by the 21st of the following month along with any VAT due.

Africa & Middle East VAT on digital services

Comments (click for details) Rate Date Threshold Comments
Algeria 9% Jan 2020 Nil
Angola 14% Oct 2019
Bahrain 10% Jan 2019 Nil
Benin 18% Oct 2023 TBC
Botswana 14% 2024 - Pending implementation
Cameroon 19.5% Jan 2020 XAF 50 million
Cape Verde 15% Jan 2022 Nil
Congo, Democratic Republic 16% Jan 2024 -
Egypt 14% Sep 2016 EGP 500,000
Ethiopia 15% Aug 2024 ETB 2 million
Ghana 12.5% Apr 2022 GHS 200,000
Guinea 18% Jan 2016 Nil
Israel 17% TBC Proposals withdrawn
Ivory Coast 18% 2022 -
Jordan 16% JOD 30,000
Kenya 16% Sep 2013 - Registration threshold removed 2023
Kuwait 5% Jan 2024? - TBC
Madagascar 20% Nil Collections via fiscal rep
Mauritius 15% 2020
Morocco 20% 2024
Mozambique 16% 2017 Nil
Nigeria 7.5% Jan 2020 $25,000
Oman 5% Apr 2021 OMR 35,000
Rwanda 18% TBC
Saudi Arabia 15% Jan 2018 Nil
Senegal 18% Jul 2024 Nil Fiscal representative required
Sierra Leone 15% Jan 2021 SLE 100,000 No non-resident rules
South Africa 15% Jun 2014 ZAR 1 million
Tanzania 18% Jul 2022 Nil Residents since Jul 2015
Tunisia 19% Jan 2020 Nil Withholding VAT; 3% Royalty Tax
Uganda 18% Jan 2020 UGX 150m
United Arab Emirates 5% Jan 2018 AED 375,000
Zambia 16% Jan 2024 Fiscal Representative req'd
Zimbabwe 14.5% Jan 2020 Nil

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