…..As Enforcement Team Clampdown On Other Firms
Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) on Thursday sealed six telecommunication masts across the state capital due to the alleged failure of telecom operators to settle N5.8 billion outstanding taxes.
The enforcement exercise, which started in the early hours of the day, affected the MTN Nigeria’s mast located at Tafawa Balewa, Surami and Etsu Roads as well as Globacom’s mast at Shehu Laminu Road as well as a general mast (ATC) at Unguwan Rimi Nagwatse Road, among others.
Similarly, the revenue service’s team also closed the Mudassir and Brothers (Mudatex) textile materials outlets located on Ahmadu Bello Way due to alleged outstanding N5.2 million for signpost advertisement. Also, Al-Babello Trading Company Limited located at Panteka market was affected by the KADIRS’ enforcement action.
Speaking on the enforcement exercise by the Service, the Secretary and Legal Adviser of the KADIRS Board, Barrister Aisha Ahmad, maintained that the action had become imperative after notices had been served on the affected firms but they did not fulfil their tax obligations as required by law.
She clarified: “We are left with no option but to exercise the powers vested in us by the law to enforce compliance”
The legal expert lamented that sealing properties to ensure compliance with tax obligations was not desirable, she advised tax payers in the state to always voluntarily comply with their tax payments to avoid disruptions of their operations through enforcement by the authorities.
In his remarks, the Legal Adviser of the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), Shamsudeen Lere, said that notices had been served on the affected defaulters which they failed to comply with in terms of remitting their taxes, adding that after all “the monies belong to the state government.”
