Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) on Wednesday enjoined all taxpayers in the state to be on the right side of the law and take full advantage of the 16-day grace period from December 1 to 16, 2016 to remit all overdue taxes/levies and those that would fall due in the month of December in order to avoid prosecution.
Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair, made this call in a statement made available to newsmen at Alausa by the agency’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Monsurat Amasa.
The LIRS boss recalled that the agency had 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.
He said the Lagos State government was still embarking on massive infrastructural development and renewal despite the significant decline in the allocation from the Federation Accounts (FA), pointing out that these could be achieved if tax payers deliberately refused to discharge their civic responsibility to the state.
“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 distain activities in line with relevant provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (As amended).
“The under listed taxes and levies are expected to be remitted to the Lagos State Government within the grace period: Tax Audit Liability of back years, Personal Income Tax (PAYE, Direct Assessment, Self-Assessment), Withholding Tax, Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Tax, Land Use Charge and Ground Rent,” the LIRS boss said.
Subair said the LIRS had put all the necessary machineries in place to ensure the enforcement of the tax laws with effect from December 17, 2016 when the grace period lapses.
He enjoined all taxpayers to comply with the directives, reiterating that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on any taxable persons or corporations who failed to remit all taxes/levies due.
“The LIRS appreciates and thanks the good people of Lagos State who have continually supported the government by voluntarily paying their taxes promptly and correctly and promises to continue to act within the ambit of the law to prosecute tax evaders,” he said.
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