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The Federal Capital Territory Internally Revenue Services (FCT-IRS) on Tuesday in Abuja commenced an aggressive campaign to inculcate tax paying culture in both individuals and organisations in Abuja.
The acting Chairman of FCT-IRS, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, who led a road show to press home the need to meet the target, said awareness creation was one of the strategies the service adopted to achieve the N202 billion tax target for 2022.
The Newsmen report that service generated N118 billion in 2021 and projected N202 billion in 2022.
Abdullahi said that the service had adopted several measures to change people’s attitudes toward tax paying.
He added that sensitisation campaign for improved tax payment would be intensified, noting that the service may resort to extant laws to prosecute defaulters.
According to him, it is an offence for organisations and companies to fail in filing their tax returns as and when due.
The acting chairman further explained that the campaign would be extended to area councils of the FCT to ensure that residents were properly educated.
He said “the road show is to create awareness about FCT-IRS and to inform the public about its roles, services rendered, and to also enlighten the public
about their responsibilities to the country and FCT in particular.
“We have realised that in the past, a lot of people have asked about FCT-IRS. So, it is our intention to now make every January our tax enlightenment drive.
“We also want to let Abuja residents know that they have the responsibility to pay their taxes and also file their tax returns.
“They should know that March 31 is deadline for filing tax returns, and there is penalty for defaulting.
“The FCT-IRS is guided by personal income tax and the FCT tax Act.”
Earlier, the Director of Tax Operation, FCT -IRS, Mr Malik Tukur, had warned that “tax evasion attracts sanctions.
“In other climes, people are arrested for evading tax payment. We want everyone to file their annual returns as and when due.”