The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has embarked on its first Regional School Campaign “School Tour” to raise awareness among youth about taxation and the functions of the Authority.
The objective of this exercise is to equip the youths with information that will help them understand and appreciate their roles and responsibilities as potential employers/employees/taxpayers. Studies have shown that individuals between the ages 18 to 45 were less inclined to report income and were uninformed of their tax obligations. Additionally, many of Guyana’s youths who enter the world of work after completing school, are unaware of the rationale and procedure of obtaining a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and submitting Income Tax Returns.
The outreach campaign, therefore, targets pupils in the fourth, fifth and sixth forms. It aims to provide insight into aspects of taxation such as Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT), Zero Rated & Exempt Supplies, applying for a TIN, trade licence etc.
The campaign is spearheaded by the GRA’s Communication and Tax Advisory Services Division. It commenced on February 1, 2019 at Bishops High School followed by visits to the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School, Abram Zuil Secondary School, Bartica Secondary School, North Georgetown Secondary School and Lenora Secondary School. The activity will continue throughout Regions 4, 5, 6 and 10.
Students are also being encouraged to participate in the sixth Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) 2019 Essay Competition. The topic this year is: Digitalisation: Moving Today’s Tax Administration Beyond the Twenty-First Century.
