Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur returned to Ghana after staying in the Netherlands for over 20 years and took up an appointment with Amanfro Limited as Investment Analyst effective 1st January 2019. His gross monthly basic salary for 2019 year of assessment was GH¢12,000.00. He contributed 5.5% and 10% of his monthly basic salary to Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Goodwill Pension Trust respectively.
Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur, is a widow and all his children are schooling in the Netherlands. He is only responsible for the up keep of his biological parents, who are above seventy years of age.

Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur has investments in Germany, from which he earned a gross dividend of 12,000 Euros in 2019, from which 720 Euros was withheld as dividend tax and the balance remitted to him in Ghana. There is a Double Taxation Agreement between Ghana and Germany.

The rate of Exchange is GH¢6.2 to 1.00 Euro.

Required:

a) Compute the tax liability of Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur for 2019 Year of assessment.

b) Explain the basis of your computation.

(a). Computation of Tax Liability for Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur for 2019

Conversion of Dividend Earned into Cedis

Item Amount (GH¢)
Dividend (12,000 * 6.2) 74,400
Less: Tax Withheld (720 * 6.2) 4,464
Net Dividend Received 69,969

Dividend Tax at Local Rate

Item Amount (GH¢)
Dividend Tax at 8% (74,400 * 8%) 5,952
Less: Tax Paid 4,464
Tax Due 1,488

Computation of Annual Tax Payable

Item Amount (GH¢)
Salary per Annum (12,000 x 12) 144,000
Less: SSF (5.5% of 144,000) 7,920
Tier 2 Pension Fund (10% of 144,000) 14,400
Dependant Parents 200
Total Deductions 23,520
Chargeable Income 120,480
Tax Charged (6,528 + (120,480 – 42,336) x 25%) 26,052

Total Tax Due

Item Amount (GH¢)
Income Tax 26,052
Dividend Tax Due 1,488
Total Tax Liability 27,540

(b). Basis for Computation of Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur’s Tax Liability for 2019

i) Mr Paa Kwesi Arthur’s earning is limited to his income from his employment. ii) Dividend tax is limited to 8% and is final tax. iii) The effective Tax Rate of Dividend Tax in Germany is 6% [(720/12,000) x 100]. iv) Ghana has Double Taxation Agreement with Germany.