The Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) on Wednesday sealed the United Bank for Africa branches in the state metropolis over an alleged N14.3 million unpaid tax.
Speaking to newsmen after the exercise, the KADIRS Board Secretary/Legal Adviser, Aysha Ahmad said the enforcement was to ensure tax compliance in the whole state concerning withholding taxes and money agents.
“We sent so many demand notices to them. We have asked them to pay the money but they refused, we are left with no other option but to enforce,” she said.
Ahmad added that the service wants voluntary compliance with tax payment while lamenting that the defaulter had been recalcitrant.
She, however, said when the defaulters pay, the service would unseal the premises.
Speaking further, the board secretary said the enforcement was part of a process to achieve the N120billion revenue target set by the Kaduna state government.
“To achieve a target, there is always a starting point. Sealing UBA branches in the state for tax default is our start. We are also going after all other defaulters to get what is due for the state government.
“We served them with demand notices. We have been communicating with their consultant and Headquarters. Infact, they even took us to court and the outcome was like a win-win situation at the tax appeal tribunal.
“The court gave us directives to review our assessment which we did and they did not still comply. It is on the reviewed assessment we are enforcing this morning,” she said.
Ahmad called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a civic responsibility.
NAN
