By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Inland Revenue Service has opened a one month window for the payment of outstanding foreign exchange tax liabilities.
This was stated in a notice issued on by the Service on Thursday and signed by the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami.
According to the Service, the one month extension became imperative in view of the number of requests, enquiries and the challenges encountered by the taxpaying public in sourcing for foreign currencies to offset outstanding tax liabilities.
The FIRS explained that as a result of these requests, “a one month window has been opened for this category of taxpayers to settle their foreign currency tax liabilities in Naira with effect from the 1st of March, 2022 to 31st of March, 2022”.
According to the Notice, the extant provision is that the currency of the transaction should be the currency with which the tax is paid.
However, it said this is a one-off window/concession as the Service would no longer entertain any such request from the taxpaying public.
The Service further said that the concession is available to all taxpayers and covers all tax types, except for companies in the Upstream (Oil & Gas) Sector and all foreign currency tax liabilities falling due on or before 31st December, 2021.
The Notice reads, ”In view of the number of requests, enquiries and the challenges encountered by the taxpaying public in sourcing for foreign currencies to offset outstanding tax liabilities, the Federal Inland Revenue Service wishes to inform our esteemed taxpayers that a one-month window has now been opened for this category of taxpayers to settle their foreign currency tax liabilities in Naira with effect from the 1st of March, 2022 to 31st of March, 2022.
“The extant provision is that the currency of the transaction should be the currency with which the tax is paid. However, this is a one-off window/concession, and the Service would no longer entertain any such request from the taxpaying public.
“The applicable rate shall be the Investors and Exporters foreign exchange rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria prevailing on the date of the transaction and or when the tax obligation falls due.
“This concession is available to all taxpayers and covers all tax types, except for companies in the Upstream (Oil & Gas) Sector and all foreign currency tax liabilities falling due on or before 31st December, 2021.
“All payments must be made before the 31st of March, 2022 and upon payment, the relevant documents relating to the transaction together with the evidence of payment must be forwarded to the Office of the Executive Chairman, and a copy submitted to the local tax office where the taxpayer’s file is domiciled.”
