Debunking earlier
reports that the agency only raked in between N1.2 trillion and
N2trillion for the year, as against N2.92trillion made in 2015, Mr. Babatunde,
the chairman of the The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said the agency made
a record N3.303 trillion in 2016.
He made
this revelation in lagos at a breakfast meeting of PEDABO, a tax, audit and
advisory firm in Lagos. The event took place at the Civic Centre on Victoria
Island in Lagos. He was the guest speaker.
The
new figure reported by Fowler shows that the agency beat 2015 figure, but
failed to meet the N5billion target set by the Federal Government for the 2016
budget.
Mr
Fowler disclosed the new figure, at a breakfast NAN.ng learnt from
guests at the event that he gave the figure himself.
Juxtaposed
with the country’s GDP, the N3 trillion plus collected still falls short
of the recommended 30 per cent. Nigeria’s tax collection is estimated at 6 per
cent of GDP.
At
individual level, only 13.4 million people of tax paying status have been
captured by state revenue agencies and many companies are also dodging payment.
Fowler
disclosed that FIRS added over 800,000 to FIRS corporate taxpayers’ list while
States increased their taxpayers’ numbers by 3.4 million.
Kano
State added the highest numbers of taxpayers with 900,000 new taxpayers.
The
FIRS Executive Chairman said very soon taxpayers will be able to pay
taxes online from the comfort of their bedroom.
Also,
evidence of payment of WITHOLDING taxes will be sent immediately after payment,
to the email addresses of taxpayers.
Fowler’s
disclosure in Lagos today came amidst some concerns over whether the Federal
Government planned to increase the taxes paid by businesses. But Budget
Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has debunked the speculation, saying that
what government planned is the broadening of the tax collection in the country.
The
FIRS, under Fowler has been doing that since he came on board in 2015.
At
a meeting with South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSP) on 8 February,
Fowler said the Federal Government will soon stop relying on oil revenue, even
if there is a renewed boom in the sector.
“For
the country’s sustainability, tax revenue is a now major source,’’
he said.
According
to him, FIRS, Customs and FRSC are working together to serve the Nigerian
populace better in the area of effective collection of tax.
He
called on the association, led by its President, Mr Denzil Kentebe to
help the service advocate the importance of tax payment.
Fowler
said that there was need for the country to look inward to ensure that required
taxes were being paid as at when due.
“FIRS
is trying to generate enough revenue for Nigeria and this can be possible
if all are paying the required amount of tax,’’ he said.
-NAN
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