The Federal Capital Territory Administration says it is committed to building a functional tax system for ease of doing business for taxable residents.
Acting Executive Chairman, FCT IRS, Mr Haruna Abdulahi who stated this during the end of the year briefing in Abuja, said the service targets to generate about N202 billion by 2022.
Mr Abdulahi said the building of a more robust functional tax system would be achieved by leveraging on the various ICT softwares that would enable residents to file returns with ease from the comfort of their homes and offices.
“We will continue to improve on our technology base, we are going to adapt more innovations going forward in the coming years”” he said.
To achieve the target, Mr Abdulahi said the service had created additional three offices in kuje, Bwari, and Gwarinpa, with a promise to replicate same across the six area councils by the end of 2022.
The Acting Chairman FCT IRS also hinted that the service in collaboration with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Joint Tax Board was meeting with about 250 MDA’s for review and reconciliation of IPPIS to address issues of wrong remittances, non remittances and under remittances.
” 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 10th 2021.”
According to Mr Abdulahi, inspite COVID-19 pandemic, the FCT IRS had surpassed its 109 billion Naira estimated for 2021 and successfully collected and remitted 118 billion Naira to government coffers.
To tackle the issue of multiple taxation, the Acting Chairman pledged to work closely with other revenue generating agencies in the territory with a view to harmonising taxes in the territory.
While calling on residents to verify their TIN on their mobile phones by dialing 773722#, the FCT Tax Boss encouraged residents to take advantage of FCT IRS Call center to lay their complaints or make their inquires on 070 0220 0002.
On her part, FCT IRS Legal officer, Mrs Ngozi Jipreze said the service has legal backings to ensure that taxable persons pay their taxes as and when due.
” The Service will also embark on enforcement in collaboration with the relevant law enforcement agencies. This is in accordance with section 8 and Part V of the FCT IRS Act 2015″
Mrs Jipreze was emphatic that the service maybe left with no choice to begin to enforce the penalties to individuals or organizations that default in the coming years.
Remi Johnson/Abuja