BLOCKING REVENUE LEAKAGES: KW-IRS SYNERGIZES WITH KW-GIS ON TCC ADMINISTRATION

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), in conjunction with Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) held a two-day sensitization workshop for Staff of KW-GIS on the administration and importance of Tax Clearance Certificate to revenue growth of Kwara State.

The workshop held at the head office of the KW-IRS, on the15th and 16th February, 2022, was aimed at reinforcing the interdependence of the two agencies in shoring up IGR for Kwara State and in promoting robust database that is vital to the planning and development of the State.

Giving her opening remarks, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi stated that, siting of both KW-IRS and KW-GIS beside one another should not be seen as a mere coincidence, but an approach to ensuring both agencies work together in achieving the developmental agenda of the government.

She explained that, the workshop was also to clarify some misconceptions about KW-IRS, shed light on grey areas in the administration of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) and discuss issues as they concern both agencies of government.

“Tax Clearance Certificate is one of the measures that combats tax evasion and promotes voluntary tax compliance” Shade Omoniyi emphasized.

The session featured paper presentations by staff of KW-IRS. In his presentation, Mohammed Audu, a staff of KW-IRS, reminded participants of the need for better synergy between KW-IRS and KW-GIS, noting that KW-GIS has the mandate to generates bills on property related activities in the State, while KW-IRS collects all revenue due on bills raised on property owners in the State. He further stated that, only by strengthening the bond between both agencies, as with every other MDAs in the State, can an improved revenue be assured for the government to deliver on more required infrastructure for the State.

Speaking on the importance of TCC to the Kwara State Government, Abdullahi Gegele of KW-IRS said, Tax Clearance Certificate is a document issued by the tax authority certifying that the tax assessed on the income of an individual for the three years preceding the current year of assessment has been fully paid. He exposed participants to the differences between a Tax Card and a Tax Clearance Certificate, summarizing it as “Tax Card shows that a person is an eligible taxpayer” while “Tax Clearance Certificate shows an individual as a tax compliant citizen”.

The paper highlighted conditions to be fulfilled before a TCC can be issued, contents of a valid TCC, benefits of requesting for TCC as well as the penalties for providing wrong information to obtain TCC and for refusing to request for TCC on qualified transactions.

“A person who gives incorrect information for the purpose of obtaining a tax clearance certificate or obtains the certificate through misrepresentation, forgery or falsification is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N50, 000 plus double the tax payable by him/her or to three years’ imprisonment or to both such fine and imprisonment” the paper reiterated.

It also added that “a person, be it a government or organization or corporate entity who fails to demand for a Tax Clearance Certificate as required by Section 85(2) of PITA is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000,000 or to imprisonment of 3 years or both such fine and imprisonment”

In her submission, Olanike Wole-Oke, took participants through the processes of Property Tax administration, identified challenges in the discharge of duties of property tax drive in the State, and the way forward to resolving issues through effective and efficient collaboration between KW-IRS and KW-GIS.

The session fields questions from participants on the issuance of TCC, Mass titling, Logistics, Stamp Duty, among others.

In his closing remarks, the Executive Secretary, KW-GIS, Alhaji Idris Ahmed lauded KW-IRS for organizing the workshop, requested more of such engagement and pledged better collaboration in the drive of revenue for the State through blocking of all revenue leakages and ensuring all transactions that requires TCC are demanded and authenticity of any TCC presented, verified.

The workshop had in attendance over 200 staff from KW-GIS, Management team of both KW-IRS and KW-GIS and staff of KW-IRS.

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
17/02/2022