KW-IRS DENIES LOCK- UP OF FOOTBALL VIEWING CENTRES IN ILORIN

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) wishes to categorically inform our esteemed taxpayers and the general public that the news article published by an online media platform identified as Justeventonline.com yesterday, 4th September 2020, claiming that KW-IRS has commenced enforcement on shops, with reference to demand of N30, 000.00 for Annual Levy Fee and subsequent lock-up of shops of operators of football viewing centers in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital was absolutely erroneous and should be totally disregarded.

It is also important to state clearly that KW-IRS as the sole collecting agent for Kwara State has suspended all forms of enforcement between 1st April and 30th September 2020 due to COVID-19 to allow taxpayers to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

We hereby note that Demand Notices were served on the operators of football viewing centers, just as on prospective taxpayers with arrears to notify them of the amount due as Personal Income Tax for the previous year(s) and not Annual Levy Fee as reported by justeventonline.com; this is subject to objection by taxpayers as provided for by law if there are justifiable grounds and the same Demand Notice could not be enforced at that stage.

Furthermore, payment of Tax is a civic responsibility of every individual who earns an income from salary, commission, fee, etc.

The Service hereby urges our esteemed taxpayers to disregard the news of enforcement or lock up as peddled by the justeventonline.com or by any future publications, until the expiration of the grace period given to taxpayers, 30th September 2020.

Taxpayers and concerned citizens of the State are however advised to walk into any of our offices in Ilorin or at the area offices in all Local Government Areas of the State or use our Communication Channels for genuine information and clarifications about our services at all times.

Signed

Shade Omoniyi

Executive Chairman, KW-IRS.