Worried over the huge revenue loss due to fake agents, the authorities in the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service say plans are underway to check the problem of multiple taxation.
The assertion was made by the Revenue Consultant to the Rivers State Government, Chief Adoaje Norteh, while speaking on a phone-in programme organised by the Silverbird Communications over the weekend in Port Harcourt.
Chief Norteh stated that the plan to check the loopholes in the internal revenue collection system in the state was part of measures to raise the revenue profile of the oil rich state.
He stated that a new Business Identification Number (BIN) has been introduced to address the problem of revenue loss since a lot of taxable business units have evaded paying their tax to the state.
Tax evasion, Chief Norteh emplahasised can stifle government activities in the area of reducing money available to carry out development, stressing that the state government cannot solely rely on oil allocations.
Throwing more light on BIN, the Revenue Consultant stated that the number is aimed at keeping a record of all taxable institutions in the state and giving them an account that is unique to them.
This account number, Chief Norteh further declared would enable them transact business with the state government and also enable them to enjoy public services as well.
His words: “Every business needs it both small and big. In short it is the small businesses we are really targeting at because the big businesses are visible enough not to evade tax.”
Immediately one registers with the new BIN, Chief Norteh said it would save the person the hazzles of paying taxes as the number would provide access code to pay his or her tax anytime.
The Rivers State Revenue Consultant lamented that over 50 per cent revenue registration process are fake in the state and that the situation is worsened by touting agents who rob innocent members of the public of their money in the name of tax.
Calling on the public and businesses to register and get their BIN numbers, Chief Norteh stressed the need for them to meet deadline at the end of the month.
For him, “the exercise is to encourage voluntary compliance and instalmental payments are allowed under negotiation”.
To ensure that companies and businesses do not evade old tax payment they must provide receipts to show payments of tax in the past five years.
There are also on-line registration billed to take-off immediately the validation exercise is concluded according to Chief Norteh, warning members of the public not to patronise any agent, as nobody has been authorized to give BIN numbers.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (right) exchanging pleasantries with the Dan Masanin of Kano, Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule, at the 3rd annual conference and general meeting of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice held at Tahir Guest Palace, Nassarawa Area, Kano, Kano State, recently.