FCT-IRS commences validation of registered taxpayers in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) looks to this week commence a comprehensive validation of every registered and eligible taxpayer in Abuja, as part of its effort towards ensuring efficient taxation system in the Territory.
It was gathered that the Service is working in concert with various data management agencies, and has developed a robust taxpayer database based on which unique taxpayer identification numbers were assigned to every taxpayer in the FCT.
According to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCT-IRS, Abdullahi Attah, who made this revelation at the weekend while addressing a section of the media, the exercise is in line with Section 7 (g) of the FCT-IRS Act of 2015.
Attah said the Service has so far generated over a million Unique Identification Numbers for individuals, and currently in the process of registering other taxpayers and agents.
He explained that the Service will disseminate bulk text messages and emails, containing basic taxpayer registration information and request each taxpayer to quote the taxpayer identification number needed in all communications with the Service.
“The purpose of the exercise is to put in place a verifiable and foolproof taxpayer database that guarantees efficient taxpayer in the FCT whether employed or self-employed.
“The bulk text messages and emails, contain basic taxpayer registration information and request each taxpayer to quote the taxpayer identification number in all communications with the Service.
“It is one of its kind in the country and expected to change the face of taxation by according unique and personal recognition to every taxpayer in the FCT whether employed or self-employed,” he said.
The FCT-IRS boss, added that validation exercise will be followed by the registration of companies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) domiciled in the nation’s capital as tax agents.
Meanwhile, Attah revealed that the Service has generated a total sum of N19.6 billion from the month of January to March 2018, while regretting that the first month he assumed office, 50 percent of the tax paid went to Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS).
He further disclosed that the Service is targeting to generate the sum of N146 billion for the FCT Administration through the introduction of Unique Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs).
While commenting on alleged double taxation in the Territory, the chairman affirmed that absence of a regulation gave room to multiple taxation in the past, which is being addressed by the new Act, stressing that the new Act intends to have unified tax collection system, which will enable the streamlining of taxation services for relevant authorities.
“Our Act allows us to collect all revenues. Apart from collecting all revenues, we are supposed to also have relationship between us and the local councils (Area Councils) so that we don’t have these issues of multiple taxation.
“The Act has given the states particular taxes they will collect and the local governments particular taxes they will collect, but because FCT has not got one before now, everybody was doing whatever he wanted. Now, we are meeting on a regular basis, working on avoiding multiple taxation.
“As a new organization, it will take time for us to understand each other and know our boundaries. When we set up our system very well, we intend to have a unified tax collection portal such that when we collect, then we can share.
“It’s going to encourage taxpayers to embrace self assessment procedure. The information was gotten from already existing database at the BVN and NIMC”, he stressed.