Taxing Football Players 

COMMENTARY ON TAXATION OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS AMONG OTHER INCOME EARNERS IN GHANA IS LONG OVERDUE 

The main source of revenue for governments the world over, is through direct and indirect taxes from both the working and the unemployed. Unemployed people pay taxes through the goods and services offered on the open market. It is common knowledge that head porters, popularly called ‘Kayaye’, truck pushers, and porridge sellers before they start-off their business for the day, pay tolls to revenue staff of local government authorities. In certain instances, hawkers who are constantly harassed for plying their trade at unauthorized places also pay daily tolls. For the worker in the formal sector, whether public or private, their income tax is always deducted at source. As to whether the remaining amount will be enough for their upkeep for the ensuing month or not, is another issue. The formal worker appreciates the need to pay such direct taxes to the state, aside from the taxes, paid indirectly. While the ‘kayaye,’ truck-pusher or ‘koko’ seller pay daily tolls, it is unfortunate that others who are in a much better position to pay taxes are deliberately left out of the net.

There is no doubt that taxes help the government to provide the citizens with projects such as roads, healthcare, educational facilities and transportation. So, it beats ones imagination why footballers who fall in the group of high income earning status in the world today, are sometimes not taxed. That business has provided income for many a nation, especially in Europe where no footballer is allowed to spend his or her income from the game all alone, without paying the stipulated tax component. It is therefore mind-boggling to hear people who ought to know better argue against taxation of footballers from Ghana. These footballers earn incomes in their local clubs, whether salaries, wages, inducement fees, transfer fees or bonuses. The Clubs also make big time business deals especially when they sell players either to other local clubs or foreign ones. Ironically, when Ghanaian footballers travel abroad to ply their trade, they do not question those nations for taking taxes from them. It is even being reported that when returning home for national assignments, they have the opportunity to bring home goods without excise duty because of protocol. When those in the national teams perform well during soccer tournaments, the government is able to find money to reward them handsomely at the expense of the majority poor. It is true that these players represent the nation and raise high the national flag among the comity of nations. 

However, the issue of not taxing them should be given a second look. For instance, personnel in the security services who go on peace-keeping duties around the globe at the peril of their lives pay taxes on their income to the state. We need to bear in mind that such security personnel have also from immemorial made the entire nation proud whiles protecting the nation internally. Even during fund-raising for development purposes, in our various towns and communities, non-resident citizens pay twice the amount paid by their resident counterparts. It is assumed that the citizens at home make much more sacrifices of their resources to maintain the community than those non-residents. 

Even though it is belated for the state to take taxes from our national team players, “It is better late than never”. It is by so doing that the collection of tolls and fees from truck-pushers, ‘koko’ sellers, ‘kayaye’ among other petty traders could be justified. In addition, their taxes could serve as a source of revenue which can be used by the national broadcaster GBC, to procure broadcast right for tournaments for the ordinary Ghanaian to enjoy matches, at all times.

BY: NICHOLAS OSEI-WUSU, A JOURNALIST.