Mr Haruna Abdullahi, Acting Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has urged residents to take advantage of the company’s help desk to lodge tax complaints.
Abdullahi gave the advice when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) flagship programme, NAN Forum in Abuja on Sunday.
Abdullahi said the help desk as well as dedicated helplines were introduced by the service to ensure seamless tax processes.
“We currently have a help desk with dedicated numbers for the public to call in when they have tax matters to clarify.
“We also have dedicated staff who are always on hand to chat people up and respond to queries.
“People can equally visit our website or social media platforms for information on tax returns and other tax matters,” he said.
Abdullahi said, “for instance our USSD Code for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). is *7737*22# which can be verified using a registered phone number, NIN or BVN.
“Our website is https://fctirs.gov.ng while the number to dial to lodge tax complaints is 0700 220 0002.
“So, with these avenues among others, people do not need to come to our offices to get their queries responded to.
“We are also opening up other platforms to engage with younger people to clarify most of these issues.”
On simplification of complex tax laws for better understanding by tax payers, the FCT-IRS boss said there was no doubt that laws on technical issues like taxation were complex.
He said the process of simplifying tax laws was not within the purview of the service as it was an implementing agency.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the service would do everything within its reach to simplify the process where necessary.
Abdullahi said further that efforts were ongoing by the Federal Government to explain some of the laws for the understanding of all.
“There is a Finance Act that comes out every year to clarify some of these things and we on our part issue circulars to the public on tax matters.
“So far this year, we have issued two circulars to the public to clarify some aspects that seem confusing because part of our role is to educate the public.
“For instance, we issue external circulars to clarify if there are regulations that need to be issued or if laws need to be changed,” he said. (NAN)
