FIRS To Grant Tax Amnesty To Companies

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has promised to grant “tax amnesty” to companies that have yet to register with it. 

The South East Regional Coordinator of FIRS, Mr Peter Igwe, made the promise  in Enugu while exchanging views with members of Enugu Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (ECOBPA) in his office. 

He said only companies that had not paid any tax to the service would benefit from the gesture in order to encourage others to pay taxes. 

“This is not a waiver for those who owe the service, but for those in business who have never paid anything to us. 

“We will not charge them any penalties, but will start charging from the day they register with us. We will not charge from the day such  companies commenced operations,’’ he said.   

Igwe said a two-month grace with effect from April had been given to those affected, after which they would be compelled to pay taxes.

He said the issue of multiplicity of taxes was being given priority attention by the Joint Tax Board, and would soon be resolved. 

“The FIRS management is working on the introduction of a unified tax system, whereby people can pay taxes from anywhere in the country. 

“The FIRS is doing a lot to educate the people on the need to pay taxes but unfortunately, our people do not come to pay. Tax is as old as mankind,’’ he added. 

Igwe warned people against paying taxes to touts, explaining that  the services offered by the FIRS were free of charge.

The Chairman of ECOBPA, Mr Okechukwu Nwadinobi, had earlier said  that the coalition had embarked on advocacy visits to relevant government agencies to sensitise them to the need to improve the business environment in the country.

He said the issues of multiplicity of taxes and the lack of security were among the factors militating against business development in the country, and urged government to urgently address them. 

The coalition comprises of 25 organisations drawn from the organised private sector and professional associations, including the media and Civil Society Organisations.