FIRS seals off two companies over tax evasion in Bauchi

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) tax enforcement team has sealed off two companies over tax evasion amounting to over N 24million in Bauchi Local Government Area of the State.

The defaulters include the state government owned Bauchi Investment Company (BIC) and Abdulrashid Tyre  and Garu Microfinance Bank among others.

The task force carried out the exercise successfully, except at the Garu Microfinance bank where they faced some level of resistance from bank managing director.

At Garu microfinance bank, which is allegedly owing more than N14 million, workers salaries were being owed at the time of the FIRS task force visit, they threatened to close the bank and after pleading, the bank and the FIRS reached agreement that within 24 hours the bank will make arrangement to offset the salaries.

While at the Bauchi Investment Company which is a state government company which is owing over N8 million, the task force sealed the company,

Zonal Comptroller of the FIRS Bauchi Ofice, Richard Magaji expressed satisfaction with their activities and explained that only last week Abdulrashid Tyre registered with the FIRS and he must bring all his books for assessment.

Mr Richard urged the business owners to pay their taxes as at when due to show patriotism in nation building and to avoid any embracement that will lead to the closure of their business premises.

He said the exercise will be a continuous one, until they recover all taxes that were due for payment and therefore solicit for the cooperation of the tax payers in order to succeed.