– reminds public that fraudulentactions can lead up to 6 months’ imprisonment
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) recently uncovered a number of fraudulent practices involving persons applying for various categories of licences. As a result, the agency took stern disciplinary actions, including the dismissal of employees.
The Authority in a release stated that in an effort to prevent such practices, it is cautioning members of the public against colluding with individuals, including GRA officers, to perpetuate fraud in the course of completing a transaction.
“Persons found guilty of such unlawful actions are liable on summary conviction to fines and imprisonment for a maximum of six months, depending on the nature and severity of the offence,” the GRA added.
GRA Head Godfrey Statia
Further, it stated that the requirements to obtain licences are listed on GRA’s website at www.gra.gov.gy or requested via WhatsApp numbers 707-9841 or 707-9842.
However, the Authority also reminded the public that its staff members are not authorised to collect monies from taxpayers for any transaction or offer to complete transactions in exchange for gifts. Taxpayers must make all payments at the cashier sections at GRA’s Headquarters on Camp Street, Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs) and Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) where they will receive an official GRA receipt as proof of payment.
Moreover, GRA has repeatedly published alternative payment options available through online banking services at Republic Bank, Demerara Bank, Bank of Baroda, and GBTI; Mobile Money Guyana (MMG) and Bill Express.
Meanwhile, persons who suspect that they are victims of fraud, or are aware of officers who are colluding with taxpayers, should request the name and employee ID of the person representing the Authority and report the matter (anonymously) to GRA’s Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) hotline 225-5051 or via email to [email protected].
Only recently, an employee of the GRA was arrested for selling fake documentation to a labourer of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.
It was reported in a section of the media that the 28-year-old employee, who worked at the Authority’s Administrative Department, sold a bogus driver’s examination pass paper – a document needed to apply for a driver’s licence at GRA – to the labourer.
However, when the labourer arrived at GRA’s Headquarters on Camp Street on December 20, 2022, to apply for the licence and submitted the fake document, an alarm was raised by GRA employees on duty.
The man was then detained for questioning. During that process, he told investigators that he had purchased the document from a GRA staff for $100,000, believing that it was a genuine one.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Eve Leary were informed and the GRA employee was arrested last Wednesday.
The staff later admitted to selling the document to the Essequibo resident but only for $50,000.
