FIRS warns tax defaulters of sanctions

As pressure continues to mount on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to raise tax collection, it has also warned tax defaulters that it would not hesitate to mete out appropriate sanctions in line with provisions of the Nigerian tax laws.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Federal Inland Revenue Service stakeholders’ engagement forum in Abuja, Kabir M. Mashi, chairman, FIRS, particularly urged the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to comply with all relevant tax laws, which require that they deduct and remit withholding tax and value added tax promptly from all payments to contractors and service providers as well as personal income tax from their employees.

Mashi advised that the MDAs should assist their staff in complying with annual filing requirements and also in processing tax clearance certificates through officials channels, so that they do not patronise touts or obtain fake tax clearance certificates.

He also urged them to continue to assist FIRS with relevant data and information on taxpayers, as and when requested and also verify with them, any tax documents, which the contractors provide especially tax clearance certificates.

Mashi also solicited for more cooperation and support from the corporate and individual taxpayers and other stakeholders as FIRS constantly seek to improve upon performance.

“For those who are not in compliance or who have not fully discharged their obligations under our laws, we urge you to please comply as we will not hesitate to invoke our powers of sanction under the tax laws,” he warned.

The stakeholders’ forum brings together corporate and individual taxpayers, and ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) for the first time to discuss ongoing initiatives of FIRS and the role which every stakeholder has to play in ensuring the success of these initiatives.