The article examines Ghana’s new Value Added Tax Act 2025 (Act 1151) and its implications for capital market services, arguing that the tax may deter investment rather than encourage it. It discusses how the law could affect investor confidence and offers recommendations for regulators and stakeholders to balance tax policy with market development.
The Value Added Tax Act 2025 (Act 1151) imposes VAT on services provided on the capital market.
It was promulgated in 2025.
It imposes taxes on the cost of operations of investors, potentially reducing trust and confidence.
The article argues that the law may discourage investment rather than incentivize it.
Get VAT and indirect tax news delivered to your inbox twice a week.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
BFT Online · 12 days ago
Ghana's recent VAT reforms aim to correct structural weaknesses rather than provide immediate price cuts. Key changes include abolishing the COVID‑19 Health Recovery Levy, allowing NHIL and GETFund levies to be credited as input VAT, raising the goods‑based registration threshold, and phasing out flat‑rate schemes. The reforms also emphasize electronic invoicing to improve compliance and revenue collection.
Ghana Business News · 15 days ago
The Ghana Revenue Authority has raised the VAT registration threshold from GH¢200,000 to GH¢750,000 per annum, effective 26 January 2026. Businesses below the new threshold will be deregistered and placed under the Modified Tax Scheme, which offers simplified compliance options. The move aims to reduce the compliance burden on micro and small businesses in the informal sector.
Daily Investor · 1 day ago
South Africa’s 2026 Budget will focus on whether VAT can keep pace with a digitised economy rather than on rate hikes. A proposed two‑percentage‑point increase was tabled and rejected in 2025, and the Finance Minister confirmed that VAT rate increases for 2025/26 and 2026/27 have been dropped. The Treasury is examining how digital services supplied by foreign providers are taxed and whether the current framework captures modern consumption.
VatCalc · 1 day ago
Cameroon’s 2026 Finance Law introduces a real‑time VAT e‑invoicing regime that will require all taxpayers to use approved electronic invoicing solutions. The new mandate builds on the 2024 Finance Law’s electronic tracking requirements for selected sectors and aims to shift tax control from post‑filing audit to transaction‑level visibility.
Bloomberg Tax · 2 days ago
The Ivorian tax authority released the annex to the 2026 Finance Law, introducing several tax changes. Measures include extending a 7.5% withholding tax on non‑commercial profits for certain non‑salaried participants, eliminating VAT exemptions for oil exploration, agriculture, manufacturing and packaging and applying the standard 18% VAT rate, raising the tourism development tax to 2.5% from 1.5%, imposing a tax on foreign digital service platforms without a physical presence, and reducing the property tax to 13% from 15%.
ATAF · 6 days ago
ATAF presented African viewpoints on VAT treatment of crypto assets and internationally traded services at the OECD Global Forum on VAT in Paris. The presentations highlighted practical, implementable approaches, clear VAT models for token exchange, and the development of a regional toolkit for non‑resident suppliers. The event underscored the importance of regional coordination and stakeholder engagement to align African realities with global VAT policy.