Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it will recover taxes due from defaulters’ assets in the custody of any person, including but not limited to sums standing to its credit with a financial institution in Nigeria.
The agency said this in a statement by its Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad.
It said the move is in line with the Section 31 of the FIRS (Establishment) Act, 2007 (as amended).
The statement said the decision to recover unremitted taxes from public and private entities mandated to collect and remit taxes was taken following increasing cases of illegal withholding of taxes.
It said the FIRS has served a notice to companies, corporations, MDAs and other agents of collection on the new decision.
“All companies, corporate entities and other agents of collection stated are required to pay all outstanding tax liabilities to FIRS within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice,” the statement.
“MDAs, companies, corporations and other collecting agents that fail to comply with the directive now stand the risk of having all outstanding taxes deducted directly from their bank accounts or statutory allocations, or have their other assets seized by FIRS and turned over to the Government of the Federation in lieu of the withheld taxes.
“The Service will take all necessary steps to prosecute defaulters for willful negligence, tax evasion, unlawful conversion of government property, etc. as the case may be.”
