Determined to ensure compliance in the payment of taxes, the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, has sealed up business premises in Makurdi, comprising schools, hotels and hospitals over tax evasion and non filling of annual tax returns.
Chairman of the service, Mr Emmanuel Agema, who led BIRS enforcement team with security operatives on Monday sealed up, New Hotel Lucia, Rose Asase Schools, Graceland Suites, City Hospital, Riverside Hotel, Peniel College, ECWA Secondary school, Vincal Pharmacy, and Emory Specialist Hospital.
In a statement by the Media Assistant to the Chairman, BIRS, Jacinta Bernard explained that the sealing of the enterprises became necessary due to non remittance of due taxes to the Benue State Government, non filling of annual returns over a period of time even after issuance of series of demand notices and reminder letters reminding and notifying them of their obligations.
Her words: “the Justice Maurice A. Ikpambese, of the High Court of Justice of Benue State of Nigeria in compliance with Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 and section 41 (1) (3) (4) of the Benue State Internal Revenue Law 2022 issued a warrant to seal the said organizations.”
She quoted her Boss as reiterating his commitment towards adapting legal measures which include enforcement and other regulatory actions to ensure that tax payers do not default.
The Chairman noted that since government on its part is fulfilling its responsibility of regular payment of salaries, pension and gratuity to stimulate the economy as well as execution of sustainable projects in the state, tax defaulters shoud pay their taxes to enable government embark on more projects for the development of the state.
