Plateau Draws Battle With State’s Tax Defaulters

Agabus Pwanagba, Jos

The Plateau state government has vowed to sustain punishment against the individuals or organizations that default laws guiding payment of taxes and levies in the state.

The State Chairman, Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) of the revenue agency, Samuel Pam disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Jos, the state capital on Tuesday,

Pam maintained that the service had continued its clamp down on defaulters and had closed down offices of some organizations owing estimated N15.9 million Development Levy.

He warned all corporate organizations and Institutions against tax evasion, an act, which he described as “criminal” and “destructive”.

While admonishing the general public not to relent in paying their taxes, he warned that the service would not hesitate to prosecute defaulters.

In his revenue breakdown, the Chairman declared income of N4. 21 billion in the first six months of the ongoing fiscal year.

Describing the collection as “good fit“ Pam commended the staff of the Service for their commitment to duty, but tasked them to brace up for better result.

A critical review of the revenue collection for the period he stated showed that the parastatal generated the sum of N2. 97 billion, while N1. 24 billion was realized from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Pam revealed that road taxes amounted to N220. 52 million with N85. 14 million generated from sales of Plate numbers and N72.71 million from sales of Car stickers/Vehicles tags.

He said, the month of May recorded the highest collection of N813, 033, 465. 27 while the lowest was in April with N567, 660, 013.07.

“We hope to improve on our collection before the year runs out; the government was doing all it could to give the people of the State the dividend of democracy.

The Chairman said the service was aiming higher, saying it has initiated measures to block all revenue loopholes for better results to enable the state government meet its obligations to the citizenry.