By Tony Obiechina, ABUJA
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Tuesday served a 7-day notice to tax defaulters, with a warning that it will soon begin a nationwide tax enforcement to bring tax defaulters to book.
The Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS, Abiodun Aina in a notificationto taxpayers on Tuesday informed them of the plan by the Service tobegin tax enforcement against such defaulters should they continue to fail in fulfilling their tax obligations.
He advised such taxpayers to settle their tax liabilities within 7days of the publication to avoid any inconveniences or interruptions in their operations.
Said the FIRS in a Public Notice: “The FIRS hereby informs all taxpayers (individuals, partnerships, Enterprises,Corporate organisations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies) who arein default of payment of taxes arising from self-assessment, taxaudit, tax investigation, transfer pricing audit, demand notices andany other liabilities, that the Service will commence a NATIONWIDE TAXENFORCEMENT EXERCISE with a view to prosecuting defaulters and recovering all outstanding taxliabilities”, the notice read.
Aina said the enforcement is pursuant to the provisions of Section 8, 26 (2), 33 and 35 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (EstablishmentAct, 2007).
“The taxes referred to are as follows: 1. Petroleum Profits Tax; 2. Companies Income Tax; 3. Value Added Tax; 4. Withholding Tax; 5.Tertiary Education Tax ; 6. NITDA Levy; 7. Stamp Duty; 8. CapitalGains Tax.
He added: “All taxpayers are therefore strongly advised to settletheir tax liabilities within 7 days of this publication to avoid anyinconveniences or interruptions in your operations”.
According to a statement by the Service Head of Public Communication, Wahab Gbadamosi, “The FIRS had always warned that tax defaulters who fail to take advantage of programmes like the Tax Amnesty and the Volountary Assets Income and Assets Declaration (VAIDS) programmes to off-set their tax liabilities, risks having the rough end of the stick”.
