By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—Edo State Government has approved several categories of waivers to tax debtors in the state, saying that the waivers will only be beneficial to those who paid their outstanding tax liabilities in the next 90 days effective December 2, 2016.

Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Service, ESIRS, Chief Oseni Elamah, who announced this after a meeting with stakeholders, said the gesture was part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s philosophy to run a participatory and people oriented government which would create a tax friendly environment.

Godwin Obaseki

He said the debts owed to the state government by those concerned had been established and communicated to the tax payers as final liabilities as at November 12, 2016, stressing however, that tax payers could only enjoy the waivers provided the debts were settled  within 90 days  from December 2, 2016 to March 1, 2017, on the terms and conditions outlined by government.

According to him, PAYE tax debtors “who make payments within the first 30 days, will attract a reduction of 50% of the tax owed, plus a waiver of full interest and penalty. Payments made within the next 30 days will attract a reduction of 30% of the tax owed, plus a waiver of full interest and penalty. Payments made within the last 30 days will attract a reduction of 20% of the tax owed, plus a waiver of full interest and penalty.

“For direct assessment, tax debtors who make payments within the first 30 days, will attract a reduction of 50% of the tax owed, plus a waiver of full interest and penalty. Payments made within the next 30 days, will attract a reduction of 30% of the tax owed, plus a waiver of full interest and penalty.”