The Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr
Babatunde Fowler, says with the introduction of Voluntary Assets and Income
Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), no Nigerian can evade tax payment.
Fowler said this at the 138th Quarterly Meeting of the Joint Tax
Board (JTB) on Monday in Abuja.
as “Administering Voluntary Assets and
Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) – 2017 in Nigeria: The role of
stakeholders.’’ Fowler, also the Chairman of JTB said every Nigerian would be
held accountable with the introduction of the new scheme.
He said that the so called “untouchable citizens’’ were willing
to pay tax without forcing them under the scheme. According to him, the board
has received positive response so far on the scheme.
To improve tax compliance, the Federal Government said tax
offenders stand to enjoy 29 per cent waiver on overdue taxes if they take
advantage of VAIDS. The VAIDS programme is aimed at reducing tax payers’ liability
and creates more awareness on the statutory function of every working citizen
to pay tax.
The scheme which started July 1, offers a window for those who,
before now, have not complied with extant tax regulations to remedy their
positions by providing them limited amnesty to enable voluntary declaration and
payment of liabilities.
Fowler said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) adopted
between the FIRS and State Internal Revenue Service including that of VAIDS had
been working very well.
“From the point of FIRS, all the money generated is shared
between the three tiers of government; the collaboration between states and
FIRS is improving.
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“I hope the collaboration will continue to get better,’’ he
said. Fowler said that the JTB meeting had improved the collaboration between
private and public sector.
He said the meeting would focus on the review of VAIDS and
actions that would be taken after the implementation of the scheme. “I will
also want to thank the stakeholders for all the activities and the Acting
President who is in the fore front of the tax drive.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting
witnessed the handing over of the outgoing Executive Secretary and Incoming
one. The new Executive Secretary, Mr Oseni Elamah pledged to serve the body and
to take it to a greater height.
“I pledge to serve you as a body and to also support each of you
individually in your various capacities toward the realisation of Joint Tax
Board in creating a tax friendly environment.
“I will also support you in fulfilling your mandate to optimise
revenue for the various tiers of government,’’ Elamah said. Elamah is the
immediate past Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Service.
Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, the outgoing Executive
Secretary of JTB urged the new official to take the board to greater height.
Abubakar, who served for seven years called on the members of the board to
support Elamah to enable him succeed.
NAN reports that no fewer than 90 participants from JTB, FIRS, State
Internal Revenue Service and representatives of Nigeria Governor’s Forum
attended the meeting.
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