Tax Evasion: FIRS Plans Direct Deductions from Defaulters Bank Accounts, Other Assets

Following rising cases of wilful and illegal withholding of taxes collected by companies, corporations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other agents of collection, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has served public notices to defaulters that the Service plans “to recover taxes due from the defaulters’ asset in the custody of any person, including but not limited to sums standing to its credit with a financial institution in Nigeria”.

The FIRS stated this in widely publicised notices in national newspapers and online news platforms. The notices were signed by the Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami.

According to Dr. Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad
Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Federal Inland Revenue Service, the notices to all companies, corporate entities and other agents of collection stated that they were required to pay all outstanding tax liabilities to the FIRS within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice.

Recall that FIRS had previously issued a similar notice to MDAs demanding payment of all outstanding tax liabilities to the Service within 60 days from the date of publication of the notice. 

Its statement adds, “It becomes clear, following these notices, that any MDA, company, corporation and other collecting agent that fails to comply with the directive stands the risk of having all outstanding taxes deducted directly from their bank accounts or statutory allocations, or have their other assets seized by the FIRS and turned over to the Government of the Federation in lieu of the withheld taxes. According to the FIRS, this move is in line with the Section 31 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2007 (as amended). 

“The FIRS, in the notices, stated thus:  “Sections 78, 79, 80, 81 and 82 of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) Cap. C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 (as amended) and Sections 14, 15 and 16 of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act Cap. V1, LFN, 2004 (as amended) imposed obligations on companies, corporations and other relevant persons as agents of collection, to collect, deduct or withhold taxes (as the case may be) on supply of goods and services or payments and to remit same to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (the Service) within stipulated time frame.”

The notices further stated that “the Service shall, without further notice, apply the provisions of Section 31 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2007 (as amended) to recover taxes due from the defaulters’ asset in the custody of any person (including but not limited to sums standing to its credit with a financial institution in Nigeria).”

The notices added: “In addition, the Service shall take all necessary steps to prosecute defaulters for wilful negligent, tax evasion, unlawful conversion of government property, etc. as the case may be.