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Lagos issues ultimatum to tax defaulters

All tax defaulters in Lagos State have up to December 16, to clear all outstanding payments or face the full wrath of the law.

According to Ayodele Subair, executive chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), all necessary machineries have put in place to ensure the enforcement of the tax laws with effect from December 17, when the grace period lapses.

He advised all taxpayers to comply, reiterating that the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on any taxable persons or corporations who fail to remit all taxes/levies due.

According to him, the taxes and levies expected to be remitted to the Lagos State government within the grace period include; tax audit liability of back years; personal income tax (PAYE, direct assessment, self-assessment); withholding tax; hotel occupancy and restaurants consumption tax as well as land use charge and ground rent.

A statement by Monsurat Amasa, head, corporate affairs, LIRS, also quoted Subair has saying, “Taxpayers are hereby advised to clear all outstanding payments on or before the 16th of December 2016, failing which the Lagos State Government will commence criminal prosecution of offenders, with full enforcement through distrain activities in line with relevant provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (As amended).”

The LIRS has in the last few months embarked on massive advocacy and enlightenment programmes, taking Lagos residents and taxpayers through a process of education on the laws bordering on tax administration and the need and benefits of paying taxes as and when due.

•Sourced from Independent.

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