Telecom firms have begun charging customers the revised Communication Service Tax (CST). This follows an increase in the tax from 6 to 9%.
According to the Chamber of Telecommunications, the “CST, will be applied to any recharge purchase”.
For every GH¢1.00 of recharge purchased, a 9% CST fee will be charged leaving 0.93 pesewas for the purchase of products and services.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the Supplementary Budget announced the increase. According to him, the increase is to help develop the foundation for a viable technology ecosystem in the county.
CST was first introduced in 2018 at an Ad Valorem Rate of 6%. The tax is levied on charges payable by consumers for the use of communication services.
In 2018, the tax brought in a total of 420 million Cedis, representing a 27.7% increase from the estimated 304 million cedis accrued in 2017.