Kaduna Internal Revenue Service Seals 7 Telecom Masts over N5.8bn Unpaid Taxes
The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) on Thursday sealed seven telecommunication masts within the state’s metropolis over N5.8 billion in unpaid taxes.
The telecommunication masts comprised MTN servers at Tafawa Balewa Road, Surami Road, Etsu Road while GLOBACOM server at Shehu Laminu Road, and a general mast (ATC) for various communication servers at Unguwan Rimi, Nagwamatse road.
KADIRS also sealed the popular Mudassir and Brothers (Mudatex) textile materials outlet at Ahmadu Bello Way, over an outstanding N5.2 million for signpost advertisement.
The agency also sealed Al-Babello Trading Company Ltd at the famous Panteka market, reputed for selling roofing sheets, iron rods and other building materials over undisclosed unpaid signpost advertisements.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the exercise, Mrs Aysha Ahmad, the KADIRS Board’s Secretary and Legal Adviser, said the exercise was aimed at enforcing compliance by the companies that failed to discharge their civic responsibilities of tax payment.
“As usual, we are left with no option than the powers vested in us by the law to enforce compliance. This is why we are restraining on the premises,”she said.
Ahmad said that KADIRS derived no joy in sealing properties or business arenas of tax defaulters, stressing that the payment of taxes was a civic responsibility of every citizen.
She equally said that they encouraged voluntary compliance, which was why they exhausted all possible means before enforcement was the final step.
Speaking further, the board secretary said the enforcement was part of their process to achieve the N120 billion revenue target set by the Kaduna State Government.
She, therefore, called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a civic responsibility.
Also, Shamsuddeen Lere, the Legal Adviser of the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), said both agencies had served the defaulters with notices, which they declined compliance.
“The monies belong to the state government, we are coming after all the defaulters,” he vowed.
