The defaulting companies (Nicon Town
Management Company with a tax liability of N36,053,652.89, Marketing Mix
and Company Limited with a liability of N10,712,914.15, Hope Valley
International Clinic with a liability of 2,389,885.28, BEC Consultants
Nigeria Limited with a tax liability of N792,563.47, Goldmine Global
Services Limited owing N505,812.73 and Brown Brommel Limited with a
liability of N368,159.63) owed the Lagos State Government money for
periods ranging from one to five years (2007 to 2012).
A statement signed by the Executive
Chairman of LIRS, Mr Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, said the companies were
sealed in pursuant to the provisions of Section 104 of the Personal
Income Tax Act 2004 LFN (as amended in 2011) and will not be re-opened
for business until all unremitted taxes are paid to the State
Government.
He also warned defaulting companies,
especially employers of labour that the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi
Ambode has zero tolerance for tax evasion, adding that LIRS is set to
begin criminal prosecution of all tax defaulters in Lagos State to
ensure that culprits are made to face the full wrath of the law.
The LIRS boss said that under the
Personal Income Tax Act, a taxable person is statutorily required to
file a return of income for the preceding year at the expiration of
90days from the commencement of every year of assessment, whilst any
employer of labour is required to file all emoluments paid to its
employees for the preceding year, not later than 31st of January each
year.
“In addition to that, employers will also
be required to furnish the LIRS with the salary projection of all staff
for the current year. The implication of which is that a taxable person
or corporate organisations who have not filed their tax returns with
LIRS by the stipulated date is in breach of the provisions of the law,
which is a criminal offence that is punishable under the tax laws”, he
said.
He listed such infractions to include,
non deduction of taxes (PAYE, Withholding tax etc), non remittance of
PAYE taxes deducted from employees, non deduction/remittance of taxes by
casual workers, non-filing of tax returns at the stipulated statutory
period, under declaration of income, concealment of relevant information
(Income, fringe benefits etc) with a view to evading tax, failure to
process Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (e-TCC) cards for employees
as a result of non remittance of tax deducted from their emoluments.
Ogunsanwo explained that the LIRS has
spent the last ten years on advocacy, publicity and enlightenment
programmes on the statutory obligations of the citizenry to voluntarily
comply by paying their taxes promptly as prescribed in the constitution
of the country and the applicable tax legislations, but in spite of the
efforts, many corporate organisations and individuals still engage in
several infractions.
He however thanked those who have
continued to express their unalloyed support to the Lagos State
Government by performing their civic duties; stressing that these
voluntarily compliant taxpayers are seen as partners in progress, who
through the prompt payment of their taxes empower the State Governor,
Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to actualize his developmental agenda of
infrastructural renewal, sustainable, habitable and safe environment,
multimodal transportation network, qualitative healthcare, education,
agricultural development and an investment friendly environment amongst
others.
He said the law is clear on issues
bordering on tax evasion just as he reiterated that the LIRS will
continue to take full advantage of the provisions of the law to
prosecute recalcitrant corporate organisations and individuals without
further notice.
No comments:
Post a Comment