Banks to collect 20% tax on digital subscriptions from October 15

Customers using Ghana-issued bank cards to pay for qualifying cross-border digital services will face a combined 20% tax on applicable transactions from Thursday, October 15, 2026, following new collection directives from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Qualifying transactions involving cloud computing, online advertising, digital gaming, cybersecurity services, online learning and some travel bookings may also be covered, depending on the nature of the service and the applicable tax rules.

Some banks have notified customers that the applicable taxes will be included in the total amount charged when their debit cards are used to pay for affected services, while stressing that the charges are statutory obligations rather than bank-imposed fees.