New FIRS boss gets Senate nod as agency gives 7-day notice to tax defaulters
It was an easy ride at the Senate Chambers on Wednesday, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s new nominee for replacement of the chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Muhammad Nami, got the nod to head the federal agency without stress.
Recall that last minute frantic effort made by the erstwhile tax boss, Mr Tunde Fowler for his ended tenure to be renewed failed upon a letter he sent to the Secretary to the Federal Government the same day his replacement was announced by the presidency.
Aside the received Senate clean bill of health for the job, the Service Wednesday, under the leadership of the Acting chairman, Mr Abiodun Aina, issued a seven-day notice to tax defaulters, with a warning that it will soon begin a nationwide tax enforcement to bring defaulters to book.
In a statement signed by the Head of Communication, FIRS, Wahab Gbadamosi, FIRS said it has concluded plans to begin tax enforcement against defaulters if they continued to fail in fulfilling their tax obligations.
Accordingly, it advised tax defaulters to settle their tax liabilities within seven days of the publication of the notification to avoid any inconveniences or interruptions in their operations.
FIRS further stated that “The FIRS hereby informs all taxpayers (individuals, partnerships, enterprises, corporate organisations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies) who are in default of payment of taxes arising from self-assessment, tax audit, tax investigation, transfer pricing audit, demand notices and any other liabilities, that the FIRS will commence a nationwide tax enforcement exercise from December 18, with a view to prosecuting defaulters and recovering all outstanding tax liabilities.”
Continuing, FIRS noted that the planned enforcement was pursuant to the provisions of Sections 8, 26 (2), 33 and 35 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment Act, 2007).
It said the taxes covered by the enforcement were Petroleum Profits Tax, Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Withholding Tax, Tertiary Education Tax, NITDA Levy, Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax.
Aina made it clear that “All taxpayers are therefore strongly advised to settle their tax liabilities within seven days of the notice to avoid any inconveniences or interruptions in your operations.”
