Enugu govt goes tough on tax evaders, shuts businesses over N2.5b debt

 Determined to recover the huge debt estimated at over N2.5 billion from tax evaders, the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) on Friday raided and sealed up some banks, hotels and business premises in Enugu metropolis over unsettled bills.

 Tribune Online monitored the exercise and observed that many customers of the affected companies and financial institutions including first generation banks were stunned seeing the entrances of the institutions shut as early as 7 am in the morning by staffs of the state revenue service.

 Some bank customers interviewed said they were not happy with the development, stressing that the management of the affected institutions had no reason to evade tax.

 “In advance countries, evasion of tax is a serious offence that attracts severe punishment. While I agree that government should provide an enabling environment for business to thrive, the operators of the banks, hotels and other establishments  should as well pay their taxes as at when due”, Mazi Ndidi Uchechukwu noted.

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 Speaking to journalists after the raid, the Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, Emeka Odo, said the exercise which began on Friday with about 37 entities, was carried out in pursuant to the Experts Orders obtained from the High Court of Enugu State.

 Odo further said, ” This morning, the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service began the year end enforcement on recalcitrant tax defaulters in Enugu State.

 This exercise, which is still on-going as at this time, involves the distrainment of a number of commercial establishments, banks, and some private institutions who have refused to remit taxes they deducted to the Enugu State Government”

    ” We have appointed Receiver Managers over some commercial properties whose owners have refused to pay Land Use Charge to Enugu State Government despite repeated reminders.”

 “It is expected that over 3,000 properties will be affected by the work of the Receiver Managers. The total debt to be recovered is over N2.5 billion”, he concluded.