Wednesday, 12 March

Gov't bids farewell to Betting Tax, E-Levy and Emissions Levy

Business
E-Levy cake

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced the abolition of several controversial taxes, including the Betting Tax, the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), and the Emissions Levy. 

He made this known during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement in Parliament on Tuesday, 11th March, highlighting the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on individuals and businesses.  

Dr Forson stated that the government would scrap the 10% withholding tax on lottery winnings, commonly referred to as the Betting Tax. 

Additionally, the 1% E-Levy on electronic transactions will no longer apply. “We will abolish the 10% withholding tax on winnings from the lottery, otherwise known as the Betting Tax; we will abolish the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) of 1%,” he declared.  

He further revealed that the Emissions Levy on industries and vehicles would also be scrapped, alongside the VAT on motor vehicle insurance policies. 

The Finance Minister emphasised that these measures were designed to support economic activity and reduce the cost of doing business. 

“We will abolish the Emission Levy on industries and vehicles; we will abolish the VAT on motor vehicle insurance policy,” he added.  

Additionally, the government will remove the 1.5% withholding tax on the sale of unprocessed gold by small-scale miners. 

Dr Forson assured Parliament that these tax cuts formed part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic growth and provide relief to various sectors of the economy. 

“We will abolish the 1.5% withholding tax on winning of unprocessed gold by small-scale miners,” he stated, reaffirming the government’s resolve to create a more business-friendly environment.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah