TAXATION: Group Harps on Timely Payment by Citizens, Clampdown on Illegal Tax Collectors

By Praise Chinecherem

Hope Givers Initiative has advised tax payers in Anambra state to ensure they paid their taxes as at when due to appropriate bodies to avoid intimidation and harassment by illegal revenue collectors.

Executive Director, Mrs Onyeka Okey Udegbunam gave the advice during a consultative meeting with civil society organizations on tax administration and management in the State.

She lamented incivility and violent disposition of some revenue collectors while discharging their responsibilities, just as she called on government to prosecute illegal revenue agents.

She said, “Government should fish out illegal revenue collectors and prosecute them. Government should also put up an awareness system that will regularly remind people of tax payments.

“Tax payers should pay their taxes as at when due to the appropriate bodies to avoid intimidation by the illegal revenue collectors.

“Government should put up a body to handle monitoring of defaulters of tax payments. Government should conduct proper enrolment of more tax payers and document them in the database of tax payers.”

On taxpayer’s rights and obligations as well as existing Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) channels in the state, Udegbunam identified certain actions necessary to improve domestic resource mobilization for sustainable development financing.

“Government should partner with civil society organizations and President Generals of communities to improve tax administration and management in the State.

“That market enumeration exercise should continue despite the challenges experienced in the past such as some traders rejecting it. The enumeration should be done to know the actual number of stores in markets.

“Citizens should be aware of their rights to avoid being extorted by the illegal revenue collectors. Market leaders should play active roles in the whistleblowing against illegal revenue collection.

“Government should sensitize people on the available Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) in the State, such as the emails and phone numbers for reporting tax related matters.

“Persons with disabilities should be considered when making tax laws and policies. Vehicles conveying persons with disabilities should be exempted from the law against improper parking,” she added.ccç

Chairman, Anambra Internal Revenue Services, Dr. Greg Ezeilo underscored the importance of tax-knowledge population.

He advised tax administrators to be civil in the discharge of their duties.

He said, “There’s need for the citizens to know that taxation is an obligation blacked by law not victimization. It’s t’s not optional. It’s been there from time immemorial.

“We can’t be expecting much from the government without meeting with our own responsibility and contributions.

“We look forward to a tax-compliance society who pay their taxes willingly without being chased around. That’s why a tax-knowledge population is important.

“My advice to our tax administrators is, in the discharge of our duties, we should be civil.

“We must carry out our responsibilities within the ambit of the law. We should be careful not to go against the law or office policy.”