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FIRS decries high tax evasion in Akwa Ibom

By BusinessNews Staff on May 1, 2014

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, Small and Medium Tax Office, Akwa Ibom State, has described the rate of tax evasion in the state as worrisome.

It said that many businesses in the state had not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the tax authority, with a view to evading taxation.

The State Tax Controller, Mrs. Nkiru Mafiana, who said this in Uyo on Tuesday during a sensitisation/interactive forum for supermarket operators, electronic dealers, and mobile phone sellers, said the FIRS would do everything in its power to prosecute tax evaders in the state.

She stated that it was illegal for some business owners to start doing business without registering with the CAC or tax office.

According to her, the National Assembly is working on the modality that would fish out those who are doing businesses in the country without fulfilling their tax obligations.

Mafiana said some companies in Lagos and Abuja were already facing different sanctions for evading taxes.

She said, “It should be noted that your next port of call after registering with the CAC and obtaining a business name will be to register with a tax office in your jurisdiction.

“We have noted that many of you with business names have not registered with us, and this is a criminal offence. Before we start seeking out defaulters by sending their names to our investigation department, make sure you come to our office and register your organisations peacefully.

“We have also noted that some companies have not even gone to CAC to register at all, but went ahead to establish a business. This is a criminal offence.”

Mafiana added, “The National Assembly has planned a programme to fish out these criminals who are operating without registering with the tax office.

“Some companies in Lagos and Abuja are going through some sorts of hell now because of this crime. It is left for us here, since our own place of operation is still in the remote part of the country. It is proper that we strengthen our ways so as not to get into trouble.”

[Punch]

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