As part of its tax enforcement policy, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Benin City integrated tax office, has sealed up four companies for failing to render returns and make payment to the tax office.
The four companies, Teaser Fast Food Company Limited, Efex Executive Group of Companies, Prime Angle Limited and Osdy Hotel, were sealed up for not paying their Value Added Tax (VAT). Obi Francis Ogar, the tax controller of the office, who disclosed this, said the tax office was almost on the verge of closing Edo Transport Services for not sending its returns and audited account to the tax office since the past four years.
Ogar also disclosed that the saving grace for the Edo Transport Service was that some top officials of the company rally round and made some payment on the spot, adding that the management had firmly assured them that they would tidy up their debts as soon as possible.
The tax controller however stated that if the transport company’s management failed to pay up as promised FIRS would not hesitate to seal up the establishment.
According to him, “We went out on very aggressive tax enforcement recently, and for the very recalcitrant company that failed to render their returns and make payment when they are supposed to be sealed up.
“The taxes vary; some are company’s income tax and VAT. Basically, for recent operation most of them were VAT defaulters.
“The companies have been visited numerous times by officers of the office. They were written to and visited physically to inform them of their responsibility to pay their taxes, but unfortunately they didn’t take it serious.