...Reduces Cost of Replacing Electronic Tax Clearance Card (e-TCC)
...Goes tough on Tax Evaders in Lagos State
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As
part of efforts to enhance the ease of doing business in Lagos State,
the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service ((LIRS) has announced various
initiatives aimed at achieving efficient tax administration in the
State. The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo made
this known on Tuesday March 8 at a press conference held at Lagos Press
centre, Alausa, Ikeja in the company of the House Committee Chairman on
Finance, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honorable Oluyinka Ogundimu,
Lagos State Commissioners for Finance, Mr. Mustapha Akinkunmi,
Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and the Attorney General of
the State, Mr. Adeniji kazeem.
According
to Ogunsanwo, the agency has consistently been at the vanguard of
reform activities aimed at easing the process of doing business in Lagos
State in particular and by extension Nigeria, thereby championing
several initiatives aimed at supporting His Excellency, Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode, in achieving his electoral promises to Lagosians.
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Among
the initiatives is the introduction of a new two-page tax form to
replace the old six-page form which is to be used for both direct and
self assessments. He stated that the revised form and its guide notes
would be translated to Pidgin English and Yoruba for ease of completion
and wider reach"
In the same vein, the chairman noted that physical filing of Annual Returns is already being complemented with e-submission (on-line submission of Annual Returns) to ease compliance by Tax Payers.
Another
initiative by the LIRS according to the chairman is the introduction of
customer-care desk in all the 38 Tax Stations to deal promptly with
all issues that may be brought up by tax-payers saying the initiative
will be complemented with the launch of LIRS Hotline that will provide
24/7 customer-call service in English, Yoruba and Pidgin English.
The
chairman emphasized that payment for tax should be made convenient and
because of this the agency is leveraging on technology to offer
multi-modal payment portals including but not limited to PoS, mPay,
online, etc without sacrificing the traditional/extant payment portal at
the bank thereby taking payment portals to the tax payers for their
convenience.
Furthermore,
Ogunsanwo pointed out that the agency has concluded all arrangements to
ensure that maximum response time of 72 hours to all electronic tax
clearance certificate (e-TCC) requisitions is met and failure should be
reported to any of customer care-desks.
Meanwhile
the chairman disclosed that the current cumbersome requirements for
replacement of lost e-TCC such as Police Report, Sworn Affidavit etc are
to be waived and replaced with presentation of LASRRA Card while the
replacement fee is to be reduced from N2,500= to N1,000= only.
Specifically
the chairman stated that the agency has commenced the process of
overhauling of the informal sector operations with a view to easing
voluntary compliance by tax payers in this huge sector that have been
categorized into three which include the Market Men/Women and Artisans,
Micro, Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (including Professionals)
and Household Domestic Staff (HDS).
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In
view of the declining revenue from the centre as a result of fall in
the price of crude oil, Ogunsanwo revealed that LIRS is poised to
focusing on other revenue sources such as Consumption Tax from Hotel
Occupancy, Withholding Tax on Contracts, Rent, Royalties and other areas
to shore up the Revenue in the State.
Speaking at the event, the State Attorney General and commissioner for Justice Mr. Niji Kazeem said the administration of Governor Ambode had put in place necessary measures to end the era of tax evasion and indeed avoidance in the state, adding that tax avoiders and evaders would be aggressively pursued in line with the provisions of the law.
Speaking at the event, the State Attorney General and commissioner for Justice Mr. Niji Kazeem said the administration of Governor Ambode had put in place necessary measures to end the era of tax evasion and indeed avoidance in the state, adding that tax avoiders and evaders would be aggressively pursued in line with the provisions of the law.
The
Commissioner, who disclosed that the Ministry of Justice had
established a Rapid Tax Prosecution Unit to aid the Lagos Internal
Revenue Service (LIRS) in its drive to collect taxes, added that the
unit would work closely with the Revenue Courts, which the Chief Judge
of Lagos State recently agreed to set up.
The
Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mustapha Akinkunmi said in the light of
the reduction of federal transfers to States including Lagos, the State
government was looking inwards to secure sustainable ways of increasing
its revenue profile and plugging leakages in the system.
Other
critical stakeholders in attendance at the well attended press
conference were President, Chartered institute of Taxation of Nigeria
(CITN), Mrs Olateju Somorin,Vice president, Lagos State Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Agnes Shobajo, representatives of
Association of professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Manufacturers
Association of Nigeria (MAN), Market Men and Women Associations of
Nigeria, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME)
among others.
Signed
Monsurat Amasa
Head, Corporate Affairs
Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS)
Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS)
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