By Stanley Onyekwere
In spite of the dwindling economic challenges in the wake of the COVID-19, the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), has collected and remitted the sum of 118 billion Naira, thereby surpassing its revenue target of 109 billion Naira by 108 %, as at the end of November, 2021.
With this, the Service disclosed a revenue target of 202 billion Naira for the year 2022, as it intends to take aggressive public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign to mobilise prospective taxpayers, with a view to boosting the revenue base of the FCT Adminstration.
Making this disclosure yesterday, at end of year media briefing, FCT-IRS
Acting Executive Chairman, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, said within the year under review, the Service engaged some consultants to conduct a six-year back duty tax audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Enterprises and Corporate organisations with presence in the FCT.
Abdullahi noted that the engagement has resulted to the established of liabilities, and demand notices issued , in accordance with Section 54 PITA, CAP P8,LFN, 2004 (As Amended).
He added that in 2022 the Service, in collaboration with the relevant law enforcement agencies would also embark on enforcement, and have continuous engagement with stakeholders across the six area Councils in the FCT.
According to him; “In spite of the challenges faced by the Service and FCT due to the impact of COVID-19, we were able to achieve and surpass our revenue target of N109 billion by 108 per cent as at the end of November 2021.
“It is also important to let you know that we are currently meeting with about 250 MDAs for the review and reconciliation of IPPIS/Personal Income Tax/PAYE.
“This is to address issues of wrong remittance, non-remittance and under-remittance of employees of MDAs in the FCT.
“We are carrying out this exercise in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Joint Tax Board.
“Let me use this medium to invite all the MDAs that are yet to come for the exercise to please turn up before the deadline of December 10, 2021”.
Furthermore, the FCT-IRS acting chairman added that the Service would not rest on it oars, until it becomes the highest sub-national revenue generating agency in the country.
He however, solicited the support of all major stakeholders, including the media, in order to achieve the target.
“Though it is a huge task but with determination and commitment of Board members, management, staff and stakeholders like you, we shall achieve the 2022 target.
“We believe that our activities in the coming year would not only strengthen the Service for better performance on all our mandates, we shall activate fully the process to position FCT-IRS as a leading revenue generating agency in Nigeria,” he stressed.
He said Service planned to embark on an aggressive public enlightenment campaign to educate and mobilise prospective taxpayers with a view to boosting the revenue base of the FCT.
The acting chairman also explained that since the inception of the Service, it had been educating and sensitising the residents and taxpayers to their civic responsibilities.
