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  • FIRS begins online tax payment

    FIRS begins online tax payment

    Tax payers can now pay their taxes online by logging into the internet banking platform of any commercial bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), has said.

    It described the process as “the product of the electronic tax-pay solution, an ease of tax payment initiative of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Systemspecs Limited.”

    The Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Emmanuel Obeta, said the Acting Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, explained that the e-Tax Pay Solution, “is a self-service FIRS channel available on all commercial banks’ Internet banking platforms.”

    He said once a taxpayer logs into any bank’ s Internet banking platform,  he can click the FIRS link to pay his taxes and, or submit necessary documents, the same way he may choose to pay other bills.

    He said: “It is that simple. It is that convenient. It is that accessible and it is very secure. Taxpayers do not have to go to any tax office before taxes are paid. Tax payment is just a click away.

    “It is this quest for simplification of tax payment process and ease of access to tax services that led FIRS to recently roll out the electronic filing service under the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS).” he stated.

    Mashi explained that the method serves as a means of reducing time and cost of compliance for the taxpayers, and reducing interface between the taxpayers and tax authorities.

    He listed the benefits, as providing added convenience for taxpayers who will now sit at the comfort of their homes and offices and uploading their tax returns on the e-Tax Pay Solution platform.

    The FIRS boss urged the taxpayers to cultivate the use of the e-Tax Pay Solution or e-filing platforms as these are created for their convenience and ultimately engender a transparent and efficient tax system that optimises tax revenue collection and voluntary compliance.

    “We therefore hope that taxpayers will respond positively to these innovations and utilise them to a large scale,” he said, adding that this will not only ease compliance for the taxpayers, but would also enable FIRS  to ensure greater transparency in its operations as taxpayers will have full access to their records, which they upload and also use for payments.

  • FIRS begins online tax payment

    Taxpayers can now pay their tax online by logging into the internet banking platform of any commercial bank in Nigeria, choosing the FIRS link and following the prompting.
    A statement from the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) described this development as “the product of the electronic tax-pay solution, an ease of tax payment initiative of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Systemspecs Limited.”
    The statement signed by Emmanuel Obeta, Director, Communications and Liaison Department, of the FIRS said the Acting Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi explained that the e-Tax Pay Solution “is a self-service FIRS channel available on all commercial banks’s Internet banking platforms.”
    He said once a taxpayer logs into any bank’ s Internet banking platform, he can click the FIRS link to pay his taxes and or submit necessary documents, the same way he may choose to pay other bills.
    According to Mashi said, “It is that simple. It is that convenient. It is that accessible and it is very secure. Taxpayers do not have to go to any tax office before taxes are paid. Tax payment is just a click away”.
    “It is this quest for simplification of tax payment process and ease of access to tax services that led FIRS to recently roll out the electronic filing service under the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS). It serves as a means of reducing time and cost of compliance for the taxpayers and reducing interface between the taxpayers and tax authorities. It provides added convenience for taxpayers who will now sit at the comfort of their homes and offices and upload their tax returns on the e-Tax Pay Solution platform”, Mashi further explained.
    Mashi urged the taxpayers to cultivate the use of the e-Tax Pay Solution or e-filing platforms as those were created for their convenience and ultimately engender a transparent and efficient tax system that optimizes tax revenue collection and voluntary compliance.
    “We therefore hope that taxpayers will respond positively to these innovations and utilize them to a large scale. This will not only ease compliance for the taxpayers but also enable FIRS to ensure greater transparency in our operations as taxpayers will have full access to their records, which they upload and also to the payments which they make”, Mashi added.

     

  • How to file your tax returns on the FIRS electronic Platform

    How to file your tax returns on the FIRS electronic Platform

    Requirements for e-filing

    The Taxpayer must have registered and obtained TIN before accessing the e- filing platform.

    • A duly completed access form obtainable from the FIRS site or the Tax Office where the taxpayer affairs are handled must be completed and submitted.

    • The access creation takes cognisance of the type of access rights given to User by the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] or Managing Director [MD] or Principal Officer of the Company. The User’s credentials/profile in this case would have been spelt out on the access form that was completed by the CEO/MD or Principal Officer of the Company. The User may include an employee and or a Tax Consultant.

    • The access right delegated to the User may be withdrawn through notification to the Tax Office by the CEO/MD or Principal Officer of the Company.

    • Upon submission of the access form, the assigned officer of the Taxpayer Service Unit in the Tax Office creates the User using the User’s profile stated on the access form.

    • The details on the access form is used to generate User ID[i.e. Username and Password]

    • It is required that the Password is instantly changed upon first log in.

    • The information given in the access form will determine which of the access rights the user is entitled to. These include

    – View only

    – Declare (i.e file returns)

    – TIN Validation

    – Submission and upload of supporting documents (tax and non-tax related)

    – TCC Validation

    • It requires access to internet gateways such as; internet explorer not below 10, google chrome or any fire fox etc.

    Steps to filing tax returns

    1.Download the e-filing access application form from http://www.firs.gov.ng/Tax-Management/Pages/ITAS-e-Filing-Platform.aspx

    2. Complete the form and indicate your desired access right.

    3. Return completed form to the FIRS office where your tax matters are treated.

    4. Obtain your username and password from the tax office having used the information on your form to generate it.

    5. log on to e-filing platform either from the FIRS site stated above or through the addresshttps://efiling.firs.gov.ng.

    6. Change your password upon initial log in.

    7. Upon successful log in, you are positioned on the e-filing page to file any declarations/returns which need to be filed.

    8. To start your declaration, click on the “View all declarations to be filed” hyperlink or on the “Taxpayer Service” tab to select the tax types you want to file and double click on the plus (+) sign.

    9. Click on the “File now” hyperlink.

    10.On the tax return form displayed, identify relevant Line Details to complete or schedule to upload.

    11. Enter the amounts for the required form lines in the filing currency previously authorized for the tax account for which you are filing or you can upload csv filefor both the formlines and/or schedule. The upload from csv file is explained in note 1 after step 18 below.

    12. Click on the “Submit declaration” button.

    13. Verify and ensure that the amounts entered are correct,if not click “back” to go back and make corrections.

    14 Click on “Yes” for the returns to be submitted.

    15 Click on “End Declaration Process” hyperlink.

    16. View Filed Declaration page which gives you a summary of your declaration; the document number is displayed at the top right hand corner.

    17. Copy the document number which is required at the bank to settle the tax liabilityor you print the submitted declaration by clicking the print button for you to see the filed declaration with document number on it.

    18. Contact itas.change@firs.gov.ng; itasproject@firs.gov.ng; 08115900301; 08115900021 for further enquiries.

    Note:

    A.      CSV configuration for shedule upload in SIGTAS and E-filing

    The schedule prepared in excel file must be saved in CSV file

    • The CSV – Comma Separated Value is used to import information or data in excel to the system.

    • Before saving any excel file for CSV upload, the computer system must be in decimal separator configuration.

    • To configure a system to decimal separator, you click file at the menu bar, click on options and select advance on the second screen.

    • Check the decimal separator box and enter a comma ( , ). The system is now on decimal sepeaator. This is done only once for a system

    • There and then you save the excel with csv dos[disc operating system], comma delimited and others excluding Macintosh. This is the only csv version that does not work with SIGTAS.

    • The CSV can work with or without labels. If it is with labels, it means information to be uploaded must have headings at first column and first row, but where labels are not checked in, it will exclude the first row and first column that carry the headings.

    B. System requirements for e-filing        

    • Internet Explorer not below 10

    • Google Chrome and

    • Any Fire Fox

    C. Truncated declaration process

    This may be caused either by network/power failure, session time out or the e-filer who may discontinue the declaration process to seek further clarification or gather additional information. In either case, the e-filer can relog-in and continue from where he/she stopped by clicking on “in progress” and complete the declaration.

    Taxes that can be filed using e-filing Platform for now

    • Petroleum Profit Tax

    • Education Tax

    • Companies Income Tax

    • Value Added Tax

    • National Information Technology Levy

    • Capital Gains Tax

    Documentations required when making e-filing

    Beside system requirements earlier mentioned, the following documents are required when conducting e-filing:

    • Relevant Tax Returns

    • Relevant Excel Schedules saved in appropriate CSV file

    Benefits of e-filing

    E-filing platform provides the following benefits:

    • Self-service Platform using a personal computer, laptop, tablet or any device with a connection to the internet, from the comfort of your home, work or any place that is convenient to you.

    • It saves your time and money as the returns are filed online. You do not need to produce hardcopy returns and transport yourself to tax office to submit tax returns.

    • Promotes voluntary compliance due to its convenience.

    • Keep your information secure and confidential. The e-filing environment is secured and safe with your User ID and password, ITAS/SIGTAS platform will ensure that your tax information will be safe and confidential.

    • The system takes all submissions by taxpayers as self assessment

    • The system does the calculation at back-end for you. The Declaration [Tax Return] Forms are system driven, that is the formlines are linked to back-end computation and helps taxpayers to avoid common errors like using wrong rates and committing arithmetical mistakes.

    • Promotes transparency and boost taxpayer confidence and trust in the system

    • Saves taxpayer the rigours of going to tax office to confirm TIN and apply for TCC

    • Taxpayer can update her profiles without going to tax office to do so

    • Taxpayer can use message centre to make enquiries and receive instant reply for tax office

    • Tax account balance can easily be queried from the e-filing environment before taxpayer applies for Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC)

  • Eight held for ‘tax evasion’

    Eight held for ‘tax evasion’

    Officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have arrested eight management staff of companies in Ondo State for the non-payment of  company income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) to the government.

    Some of the companies are owned by the state government; others are owned by corporate and private individuals.

    FIRS Head of Legal Affairs, Southwest, Daniel Onukun, said the state owes the Federal Government about N100million.

    According to him, the state-owned Owena Motels owed N44million. Other defaulting companies are BOMACK, Integrity Foams, Uwa and Bros and Adelak Hotels.

    Onukun said some of the management staff have signed undertaking to pay their debts installmentally.

    He said those who renege  would be prosecuted.

     

  • FIRS shuts Borno hotels for owing N39.6m in taxes

    FIRS shuts Borno hotels for owing N39.6m in taxes

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has shut down some hotels in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for allegedly failing to remit their taxes in the last few years.

    The agency shut down some of the hotels through its tax enforcement team, which visited the hotels on Wednesday.

    The enforcement team, led by the Assistant Director of Tax, Sunday Inusa, said the defaulting hotels were given adequate notice through written letters to remit their taxes but failed to do so.

    Inusa said: “We are now left with no other option but to seal off their business premises until such a time when they pay.

    “We can no longer tolerate this. I have been pushed to the wall. They have to pay their returns. It is then we shall come and unseal their businesses. This is an act of fraud because refusing to pay taxes is a crime. This is clearly a fraud.

    “The Federal Government has given directives to all states offices of the FIRS to go after companies, firms and individuals who had failed to remit their taxes. We are all aware that the price of crude oil has fallen and we need to generate revenue to keep economy firm.”

    The affected hotels and their alleged tax liabilities are: Pinnacle Hotel, N12.6 million; Desert View, N9 million and Sun City Hotel, N18 million.

    The total tax liability is N39.6 million.

    Inusa warned that the hotels would only be reopened after they present evidence of payment in their office.

    But the managers of the sealed hotels told our correspondent that the Boko Haram crisis contributed to the lack of business in the town.

    They said the hotels could not afford to pay such bills at the moment.

    The hoteliers urged the FIRS to consider their plight.

    They promised to pay as soon as the situation improved.

  • FIRS seals two Ibadan councils

    FIRS seals two Ibadan councils

    The secretariats of Ibadan South East and Ibadan South West local governments were yesterday sealed by officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for alleged tax default.

    The officials also “arrested” the Chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government, Bolaji Nojeemdeen, Head of Local Government Administration, Ibadan South-West Government, Olumuyiwa Olaoye and Olabanji Bamidele, the council’s Internal Auditor.

    The head of the FIRS team, Ojo Emmanuel, who is a Deputy Manager, said they were “arrested” for tax default.

    At an enforcement meeting between FIRS and the local government officials, the State Monitor, Government Business Officer, FIRS, Akin Oluyide, explained that that the exercise became necessary because the local governments  defaulted in tax remittance.

    Olumide added that the officials would not be released, until they make financial commitment to off-set their debt. They were released after promising to pay N1 million monthly to pay off the debt.

    Nojeemdeen blamed dwindling resources for the delay in remitting the tax. Olaoye said the councils would do better if they were granted autonomy.

    He said, “We have not been able to pay our workers’ salaries and the delay in remitting was due to lack enough funds.”

     

     

  • Arik pays N30b to FAAN, NCAA, FIRS, others

    Arik pays N30b to FAAN, NCAA, FIRS, others

    Arik Air  has paid over N30 billion to aviation agencies and the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS) since it started operations eight years ago, its managing director , Mr Chris Ndulue has disclosed.

    The amount, Ndulue said, covers payment for services rendered by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA),  remittances for ticket sales to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

    He said the airline would continue to contribute its quota to the development transport  despite the operational challenges in the sector .

    Ndulue spoke against the backdrop of the listing of Arik Air among the top one hundred companies in Nigeria by the Federal Government.

    He said the airline  feels honoured to be listed among over three million companies selected by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

    Ndulue said Arik Air is the youngest of the companies honoured by government for its contributions to national development .

    The award he said will give more confidence to Arik Air partners both at  home and abroad.

    He spoke of plans by the airline to fine tune its operations next year by expansion into oil and gas ancillary services.

    Ndulue said the airline’s listing among one hundred companies in Nigeria would spur it to expand its regional and intercontinental operations to enable it serve its growing market .

    He said part of the expansion into oil and gas operations is to provide shuttle flights for major organisations operating on the Lagos- Warri and Escravos routes.

    The Arik Air boss said the airline qualified for the listing among the first one hundred companies in the country because the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and other organisers of the award considered the size of its business as well as contribution to national economic development .

    He said: “The selection process put a lot of things into consideration . The scale of operations of the businesses of the companies listed, their contribution to the gross domestic product and their value addition to the Nigerian economic development.

    “These I think were factors that guided the selection for Arik Air to be listed among the first one hundred companies .

    They also considered employment generation and contribution to government revenue . I think in the last eight years Arik Air has paid over thirty billion to government agencies for services rendered .

    “These agencies include aviation agencies . The money covers the relevant charges for our operations, as well as taxes where applicable .

    Since we  started operations in the last eight years we have made sound contributions to the development of aviation in Nigeria .

    This is part of what stood us out. We will continue to contribute to national development. This will give more confidence to our partners both at home  and abroad .”

    He further said :”We will continue to grow the business , we are encouraged , as a young company, we are still at the growth stage . We will make more progress and get more benefits for the award .

    “We expect some growth in our business , by expanding our regional and international operations . We are looking at few options in the domestic sector, we intend to connect some routes with the use of our Q400 aircraft . The aircraft is suited for operations tied to oil and gas .

    “We want to demonstrate that we can improve our operations through customer experience .

    We do not need new operators to make relevant changes in our operations .we want to improve efficiencies in all areas of our operations .this we have been working on in the past two years .

    “We are encouraged by this award . We expect some growth in our business in 2015. We are hoping to expand our operations , and look at expansion in oil and has operations by supporting companies to fly to Lagos to Warri and Escravos .

    “We are looking at on time performance . We want to improve on that and consolidate customer service . This is key because we are becoming aware that customer satisfaction is very important .

    The only competition is from old operators . We intend to increase efficiency in all key areas .

    We are looking at fine tuning our operations in every aspect to make Arik Air  the airline to beat .”He stressed that Arik Air will continue to strive to ensure that it transforms air transportation not only in Nigeria but the whole of the African continent. “This was the reason why we decided to change the old order in 2006 by operating brand new aircraft thus becoming the first operator of new aircraft in Nigeria in almost two decades.

    “This a call to do more and we at Arik Air will continue to improve on those qualities that have earned us this recognition because we believe that our best is yet to come. In the months ahead, we are going to be launching new routes as we strive to consolidate our position as the first choice for air travel within Nigeria and other destinations we serve in Africa, Europe and America,” the Managing Director stressed.

    Ndulue commended its passengers for their support in the last eight years .

    He said :”We are very grateful to our passengers for this continued patronage that has taken us to this level .

    Our passengers have supported us this far they owe the credit for whatever we have achieved  in the past eight years .

    “What is most delightful about our being listed among the top one hundred companies is that we are the youngest company in the whole list of over three million companies profiled .

    Apart from the youngest company in that category , we are also operating in the aviation industry , which    known to be very challenging .

    “To be able to get this kind of landmark achievement  within eight years is not a small feat .

    Part of the credit should go our passengers and employees , who have contributed to this award .

    “To be able to get this in eight years is very remarkable to overcome the challenge. There are a lot people who have laboured to grow this company within the last eight years overcoming all the challenges is not easy .”

  • FIRS seeks inclusion of tax education into schools’ curriculum

    FIRS seeks inclusion of tax education into schools’ curriculum

    The Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Alhaji Kabir Mashi has called for the inclusion of tax education into secondary schools and tertiary institutions curriculums.

    Mashi spoke at the Young Tax Advocates Award organised by the Students Tax Advocacy Initiatives (STAI) in Abuja.

    He said the initiative would promote tax campaign and instill culture of tax payment among citizens.

    Mashi said: “I believe this is something that history will record as being significant and strategic part of the reform of the Nigerian tax system, which has been on for over a decade.

    “…Because with this foundation well laid, we can move to the next level of the initiative, which is to mainstream taxation into academic curriculum of our schools, at the secondary and tertiary levels.”

    Represented by FIRS Direct Report Group (DRG), Hajia Queensley Seghosime, the chairman emphasised that the event was organised to celebrate the young tax advocates from 170 schools in the country.

    He said about 12, 000 students have been enlightened on tax. A lot more students were being targeted before end of the year, Mashi added.

    He  lauded the students who were awarded for their strong advocacy in their respective schools and communities.

    In his remark, the President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Mark Anthony said the institute has began work to make taxation an academic study in Polytechnic and Universities in the country.

    “Some universities have started running the programme. We are trying to partner the National University Commission (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to produce a model that the schools can adopt.”

    Anthony identified tax as a veritable means of enriching the nation’s coffer.

    He said, the participant should look forward to an era when oil would dry but tax would sustain the nation’s economy.

    However, he said the vision could be achieved if government performs its duty by providing needed infrastructure from the tax payers money.

    One of the awardees, a 10 year-old Hussaini Salmanu from Ahmadu Comassie Science Model School, Katsina deployed a drama sensitising his community on the benefits of tax.

  • Three minors, others arrested for alleged cultism, witchcraft

    Three minors, others arrested for alleged cultism, witchcraft

    •Police recover property worth N119.4m 

    the police in Ondo State paraded yesterday 48 suspects, including three minors, who were arrested for alleged cultism and sorcery.

    The Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, said the minors (15 and 16), were SS2 pupils of Adegbola Grammar school, Akure and members of Eku (Rat) cult.

    The police boss said one of the boys confessed that he was a wizard and he had allegedly killed four persons.

    Eke said: “A Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) worker in Akure reported that at a church, in Shagari Village, her phone valued at N33,000 was stolen. Based on intelligence report, the phone was recovered from a minor at the same Shagari village.

    “The suspect is a pupil of Adegbola Memorial Grammar School. He confessed to the crime and he said he belongs to a cult group named Eku. That he was initiated into the cult group last September.

    The commissioner said 32 suspects were also arrested from various locations for alleged cultism; four robbery suspects were apprehended.

    Others suspects include two for kidnapping, two for unlawful printing and selling of Nigeria Police Security Profiling forms, one for rape, three for theft and two for conspiracy to commit felony.

    In Ogun State, the police have recovered property worth N119.4million from 220 robbery suspects.  A total of 1,777 ammunitions were retrieved from them.

    They said 37 suspects were killed by the police during gun battles even as 170 arms were recovered from them.

    The commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye, said this while parading some of the suspects, including 29 members of Eye Confraternity.

    The suspected cult members, included three women, were said to be carrying out initiation rites on fresh members in the name of National Association of Airlords(NAA), at a hotel in Obantoko area of Abeokuta when plain-cloth policemen swooped on them.

    A banner bearing the inscription: National Association of Airlords(NAA) FUNAAB ( Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta) chapter and T- Shirts with their insignia, were recovered from them.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, Sunday Isokpenyi, who shot himself at the weekend in Ota, after killing his wife might have been suffering from “depression and other psychological imbalance.”

    Adejobi said the deceased did not shoot his son dead as reported in some dailies.

     

  • FIRS arrests nine for fraudulent recruitment

    FIRS arrests nine for fraudulent recruitment

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has arrested nine persons for fraudulent recruitment. They will be arraigned soon, it was learnt.

    The agency alleged that the suspects used a vast network of websites, e-mail addresses, computers, telephone lines and bank accounts in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to demand and receive money from unsuspecting persons for non-existent jobs.

    Those questioned are Alex Oki, David Kachia, Yakubu Tanko, Mohammed Shuaibu, Kehinde Jamah, Ogbonna Agwu, Aminu Ibrahim, Pascal Ajah and Chris Onyekachi.

    According to the agency, some of the suspects promised to facilitate the promotion of  FIRS officials and sent text messages to spouses, relatives and persons related to FIRS workers.

    They were accused of forging documents, impersonating FIRS officials and those of other ministries, agencies and banks, and soliciting money for the promotion of FIRS workers.

    One of the suspects was said to have sent a text message soliciting payments from senior FIRS workers to facilitate their promotion.

    Items reportedly recovered  were a Toyota Carina II saloon car, complimentary cards, bank deposit slips, among others.

    FIRS, which recently conducted an online promotion examination, which ran simultaneously in locations, said it is not recruiting for now.

    It said: “This is to inform the public that FIRS is neither recruiting nor replacing unfilled positions within its workforce. Anybody submitting his/her CV or applying through any website, responding to SMS on any online medium, social media platforms or in whatever form, for employment with FIRS, is doing so at his or her own risk.

    “Please note that employment into the FIRS will be advertised in national newspapers as well as on the FIRS website www.firs.gov.ng. The public are advised to avoid being deceived or defrauded by unscrupulous and dubious characters.”