TAX DEFAULT : BIRS Chief seals Banks,business premises in Benue State.

The Executive Chairman, Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi has led an enforcement team to distrain by sealing Eco Bank Plc, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Nile Drill Technologies Limited, Ostrich Bakery (Nig.) Ltd, Access Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc for neglect, failure or refusal to pay their assessed Taxes/Liabilities over a period of time.

According to Mrs. Orubibi, the assessed Taxes/Liabilities for Eco Bank from 2009 to 2014 stand at N168,580,407.72; Lower Benue River Basin Authority, N225,574,331.52 (2011-2014); Nile Drill Technologies Limited, N4,967,307.39 (2014-2015); Ostrich Bakery (Nig.) Ltd, N47,834,380.00 (2009-2014); Access Bank Plc, N141,359,956.93 (2009-2014); United Bank for Africa (UBA) N186,227,256.35 (2009-2014). These assessments border on PAYE, WITHHOLDING TAXES and Levies.

Speaking after the exercise, the Executive Chairman said BIRS obtained a warrant from the High Court in line with Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended) and section 41(1), (3), & (4) of the Benue State Revenue Administration Law 2015 to seal the aforementioned Companies/Organizations for default. She added that the Law provides for a fourteen days period of response. If the defaulters don't respond after the lawful fourteen days period, the properties will be auctioned.

Some Customers who spoke to Newsmen during the exercise expressed satisfaction with the closure of default banks, lamenting how banks deduct their monies at will in the name of Withholding Tax, Vat, Commission and so on without remitting to appropriate authorities.

Terna Francis
Media Assistant
18/04/2018