Multiple Taxes Militating Against Tax Collection – Institute

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has identified multiple taxation as one of the major factors militating against effective collection of taxes in the country.

The Tide source reports that the National Prýesident of the Institute, Dr. Teju Somorin, said this on Tuesday in Minna when she paid a courtesy call on the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa.

“If you ask a tax payer to pay one type of tax, that tax payer is not likely to grumble; but where a single person is paying about 10 different taxes, he will want to look for ways of not paying all.

“So, government needs to do a lot in curbing multiple taxesý all over the country.”

She  called for proper identification of tax payers to enhance smooth collection of taxes at the federal and state levels.

“If you are not able to identify a tax payer, you will not be able to assess that tax payer and collect the tax.

“So, the first thing is to identify a tax payer. Who are the tax payersý and where are they?”

She advised the Niger Assembly to amend certain sections of the state revenue administration laws to bring about efficient and effective taxation.

The institute’s president also implored the assembly to grant financial and administrative autonomy to the State Board of Internal Revenueý to enhance its operations.

She further stated that the purpose of her visit was to inaugurate the institute’s district society in Minna, adding that it would help boost efforts by the state to improve its revenue.

In his remarks, Marafa said that very little could be achieved by any government without an efficient tax system.

“There is no way we can improve our revenue base and deliver the dividends of democracy, if we are not serious about tax matters.

“Taxation is the key to success for any government, especially in this period of recession; so, we must look inwards and do the needful.” he added.

Marafa reiterated the commitment of the Niger Assembly to enacting laws that would enhance the state’s internally generated revenue.

Our source reports that the institute presented the speaker with an award in recognition of his giant strides.