GRA warns of persons impersonating officers

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has warned the public to be on the lookout as persons are impersonating officers attached to the organisation.
In a notice published in Guyana Times on Saturday, the tax agency said these activities are more frequent in the Essequibo and Berbice areas.

GRA cautioned that if persons are approached by someone under the guise of an officer attached to the organisation, proof of identification should be requested. This is to avoid any form of deception.
Once provided, persons must take note of the name of the individual and identification number to make a report.
In addition to this, the GRA informed that its employees are not authorised to collect monies on its behalf. “Officers of the GRA are not authorised to collect monies from taxpayers. All payments for licenses or taxes should only be made to cashiers at the GRA headquarter or any of its Integrated Regional Tax Offices, located across the country where an official receipt will be issued,” the notice read.
On another note, the tax agency reminded that the issuance of specific licenses such as malt, wine and liquor as well as trade and miscellaneous can only be done at its offices.
Guyana Times was reliably informed that persons have been acquiring monies under the guise of GRA employees to forge such documents. It is unclear whether actual staffers of the agency are involved in this skulduggery.
Persons who suspect anyone of conducting illegal business on behalf of the GRA can call 227-6060 extension 3201-3208 or 4105-6, where an officer’s identity can be verified.
In January of this year, Commissioner General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia had dismissed several staffers allegedly linked to corruption at the entity.
Statia attributed this to the need for revamping the authority’s organisational chart, as the entity tries to enhance its efficiency.
According to reports in sections of the media, investigations were being conducted since last year into these sacked officers.
It is understood that investigators had found instances of collusion, including the sidestepping of protocol when it comes to clearing goods. This was not the first time reports of a shake-up at the entity emerged.
Last year, there was a reshuffling of several senior personnel in the GRA – a reshuffling that touched some major departments including Customs, Excise and Trade Operations, General Services and the Integrated Regional Tax Office.