Following complaints of
harassment by  companies and business concerns, from unidentified persons, the Executive chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Services (RIRS) Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko, has called on firms operating in the state to cross check with the establishment for apprehension of fake revenue agents.
Obele Oshoko stated this while reacting to questions on revenue agents at the second stakeholders forum of RIRS in Port Harcourt.
She explained that the revenue board had reorganised its operations and does not harass anybody or company to pay tax but insists on voluntarily payment which is done through the banks.
The chairman said those who solicit for payment for stickers are working for themselves and not for the Rivers State Government that insists on voluntary compliance in tax payments.
“The Rivers State Government has not engaged anybody to harass people to pay money, all payments should be made through the banks” she declared, noting that the establishment is putting out as much information as possible to the public domain to avoid being duped.
On issuance of tax clearance certificate, she hinted that after payment of ones tax, no further money is required to have the certificates, but regretted that most companies fail to assist the process by not giving relevant information to the office .
According to her, although the process appears to be slow now because we are using manual but soon it would be automated and fastest with capacities of staff being improved through training and retraining.
In a lecture, Mr. Kenneth Erikume identified various components of tax administration and reviewed the amended taxable income bands under the personal income Tax Administration (PITA).
In a goodwill message, chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Port Harcourt, Mr Clement Akanibo, said the easiest way to attract compliance was for tax administrators to simplify the process to the people.
Mr Akanibo harped on the proper assessment of tax payers to avoid over taxation, adding that the essence of the forum was to get feedback that would enable the organization ensure fairness to all persons.