See Tax Payment As Civic Duty, Not Punishment, FIRS Tells Nigerians

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has appealed to Nigerians to halt seeing taxation outgo arsenic a load oregon punishment, describing taxation compliance arsenic a civic work and a cardinal operator of nationalist development.

Speaking astatine a one-day sensitisation store connected ‘The Role of Media successful Voluntary Tax Compliance’ successful Kaduna, the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said that galore citizens inactive misunderstood the essence of taxation.

The FIRS chairman, who was represented by his Technical Assistant connected Broadcast Media, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, said: “One happening keeps happening, galore radical bash not ever spot taxes arsenic civic duty. For some, paying taxes feels similar a load oregon a punishment. For others, it is seen arsenic thing to avoid.”

“Beyond enforcement and penalties, what we request is simply a civilization of voluntary compliance wherever citizens willingly fulfil their civic work due to the fact that they recognize the benefits,” helium added.

He explained that taxes money hospitals, roads, societal services and different nationalist goods, adding that nary state tin turn efficaciously without taxation.

Adedeji, therefore, emphasised the media’s relation successful reshaping nationalist cognition astir taxation, combating misinformation and promoting voluntary compliance by citizens.

“When journalists simplify analyzable taxation laws and explicate procedures successful wide language, they empower citizens with knowledge. An informed national is much confident, and a assured national is much apt to comply,” helium explained.

He noted that the FIRS had already reduced VAT complaint connected respective indispensable goods, including medicines and housing, to easiness the taxation load connected mean Nigerians, but fake quality and misinformation continued to distort nationalist understanding.

He urged journalists to enactment arsenic educators, watchdogs and influencers to assistance Nigerians admit the benefits of paying taxes voluntarily, adding that the FIRS’ Communication Department cannot bash the occupation alone.

Also, Aisha Larai Wushishi, the State Administrator for Benue, Kaduna and Plateau States, tasked journalists connected taxation education.

Presenting a insubstantial titled ‘Voluntary Tax Compliance: A Pathway to Sustainable Development successful Nigeria’, Dr. Mohammed Adamu said taxation remains the astir reliable root of gross for immoderate authorities and should beryllium embraced by citizens arsenic a civic responsibility.

Adamu identified fairness successful taxation administration, payer education, transparency, and accountability arsenic cardinal drivers of compliance.

In different presentation, Senior Manager, Tax, Kaduna Government Business Office, Ishaku Ankuma, highlighted registration, due record-keeping, timely filing of returns, punctual outgo and remittance of withholding taxes arsenic indispensable elements.

Ankuma warned that nonaccomplishment to comply attracts dense fines, interest, imaginable transgression charges and reputational damage. He noted that taxation compliance certificates are present prerequisites for galore financial transactions.