Hills Oil Marketing Company said media reports suggesting that it defaulted in the payment of excise duties, taxes and levies amounting to GHS 64,024.80 is inaccurate.
In a Press statement signed by its General Manager, it stated that the reported tax liability of GHS 64,024.80 is alien to Hills Oil; considering that the records available to it does not indicate any such liability of GHS 64,024.80 payable to the Ghana Revenue Authority as excise duties, taxes and or levies.
It also noted that, “Hills oil wants to place on record that penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13,809.70 on petroleum products lifted has been paid. A simple post-audit examination would have confirmed this.”
Below is the full Press Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A PRESS STATEMENT ON THE DEFAULT IN TAX PAYMENT PUBLISHED BY THE 2018 AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT; ISSUED BY HILLS OIL MARKETING COMPANY LIMITED
Hills Oil Marketing Company has observed with concern, media reports and misrepresentations made by sections of the public from the 2018 report of the Auditor General’s Department suggesting inter alia:
1. Hills Oil Marketing Company has defaulted in the payment of excise duties, taxes and levies amounting to GHS 64,024.80.
2. Hills Oil Marketing is liable to penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13,809.70 on petroleum products lifted;
Hills Oil Marketing finds these allegations as unfortunate and undesirable and views them as factual inexactitude and therefore, wishes to clarify the issue.
1. The reported tax liability of GHS 64,024.80 is alien to Hills Oil; considering that the records available to Hills Oil does not indicate any such liability of GHS 64,024.80 payable to the Ghana Revenue Authority as excise duties, taxes and or levies.
2. Hills oil wants to place on record that penalty/interest on delayed payment of excise duties amounting to GHS13,809.70 on petroleum products lifted has been paid. A simple post-audit examination would have confirmed this.
3. In order that we can resolve this matter expeditiously, Hills Oil Company has provided the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Auditor General’s Department with all supporting documents attesting to full payment of its excise duties, taxes and levies on petroleum products lifted at the Tema Oil Refinery.
4. Hills Oil has requested the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to bring this matter to an expeditious conclusion to forestall any further misrepresentation.
We assure our customers, stakeholders and the public that, as a licensed oil marketing company, our compliance with the regulations of the petroleum industry and the laws of Ghana remains unrivalled as we cooperate fully with regulators.
Signed
General Manager
Hills Oil Marketing Company Limited
15th August 2019
