By Ogie Nosakhare Jackson
The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) on Wednesday 20th May embarked on a series of tax compliance visits to burrow pits in the Edo South Senatorial District.
The Tax Compliance Team led by the Executive Chairman of the EIRS, Otunba (Hon.) Oladele Bankole-Balogun Esq., amed at ensuring the compliance level of burrow pit owners with remittance of their personal income taxes.
During the visits, it was observed that some of the burrow pits operated daily without registration and payment of their income taxes. The EIRS team thereafter took enforcement actions against those found not to be in compliance, including issuing tax demands notices and outlining penalties for non-compliance.
It further engaged with some of the owners, providing guidance on tax obligations and the importance of timely tax remittances.
Speaking with the press, Hon. Bankole-Balogun expressed the Revenue Service’s commitment to ensuring all taxpayers meet their tax obligations in the drive to support the Senator Monday Okpebholo led administration in ensuring that Edo State gets the much needed development it deserves.
“It has come to the notice of Government, particularly the EIRS, that burrow pit owners are shelving their responsibilities of paying their personal income taxes, which is a criminal offence. It is also worthy of note that the government has responsibilities towards its people, and these responsibilities are predicated on all taxable individuals, including these burrow pit owners, paying their dues by way of taxes”.
In appreciating all well-meaning and tax paying citizens of the State for their support towards the Governor Okpebholo’s administration, Hon. Bankole-Balogun was quoted as saying, “I want to use this opportunity to particularly thank all well-meaning Edo Citizens, who continuously pay their taxes, because all they do is to help and support the Government of Senator Monday Okpebholo to be able to deliver on his key mandates of providing good roads, hospitals, schools and other ongoing infrastructures and projects and these are done with the taxes paid by them”.
The EIRS’s tax compliance visits to burrow pits in the Edo South Senatorial District marks a significant step towards improving tax compliance of all taxable individuals and revenue generation in the State. This effort is continuous and expected to have a significantly positive impact on the State’s economy by boosting its IGR which will enable government to fund critical infrastructures and services that benefit the citizens of the State.
Other members of the compliance team were the Executive Director, MDA Services Hon. (Engr) Jackson Eribo and Executive Director, Other Revenue Hon. (Sir ) Michael Ohio-Ezomo
