Gbenga Akinwunmi
THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has disclosed that the Federal government has lose over N1billion  to tax evaders in Ogun State, just as it warned that late payment of tax by corporate bodies would attract a fine of N25,000.

The disclosure was made by the Tax Controller, FIRS Abeokuta, Mr. Bennett Agu, at a Joint Stakeholders Sensitization Programme, with the theme, Stakeholders’ Rights and Obligation under the New FIRS, in Abeokuta, last week.

Agu, who blamed the State Government Agencies for failing to remit deductions made on contracts, noted that laws must be implemented in Nigeria before enough tax would be generated by the government.

At the workshop, the FIRS’ Tax Controller, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mr.Igbinomwanhia Jolly, explained that there was the need for tax payers to pay voluntarily adding that N25, 000 fine would be instituted against tax evaders by the time the agency take up the issue.

“Issues of eroding tax is a general phenomenon, it is just that Nigeria’s case is somehow because of government impact on the society. It is not that the Federal Government is not doing anything felt but for the size of the country.

“Government should address poverty the situation where 90 percent of the Nigerians are poor is not encouraging. There should be no sacred cows because majority of the MDA’s are failing to remit the deductions they make on contracts and other business transactions.” He said. The Controller who warned government on multiple taxations said it may prevent foreign investors’ interest in the country.

He advised the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the Tax Policy bill into law saying it would aid compliance among various stakeholders. According to him “Multiple taxations is not good for government because investors cannot come in.

This is what joint tax will address and if the tax policy bill that is with the National Assembly is passed into law we are expecting that there will be a define way of collecting tax in the country.” Jolly in his paper, Self Assessment, advised government to be responsive noting that it was a means of encouraging people to pay their tax.

He said, “it is mandatory for companies to pay for companies to pay voluntarily because failure to pay will make government to file it Best of Judgment (BOJ) and that means penalty for late payment, especially in the first month will attract N25,000 while the subsequent months attract  N5, 000.