The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has threatened to penalise taxpayers in Rivers who refuse to pay their value-added tax (VAT) to the agency.

Abdullahi Ahmad, the FIRS spokesman, advised in a statement on Sunday.

He noted that the FIRS issued the directive following numerous inquiries after a recent judgment obtained by the Rivers government at the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court.

The court had on August 9 ruled that the Rivers government, not the FIRS, was the rightful authority to collect VAT. Following the judgment, Governor Nyesom Wike, on August 19, signed into law a bill that authorises the Rivers government to collect VAT in the state henceforth.

The FIRS spokesperson explained that since the organisation had already appealed the judgment, seeking a stay of execution order, and that the status quo ante should subsist on VAT collection, taxpayers should continue to pay their VAT to the FIRS.

“The attention of the FIRS has been drawn to the trending report that on 19/08/2021, the government of Rivers state took steps to enact a Value Added Tax Law for Rivers state following the judgment of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt Division
on August 9, 2021, in suit number CS 149/2020,” stated the FIRS spokesman.

The suit was about who has the constitutional duty to collect VAT and personal income tax in Rivers.

“We wish to inform the general public that before the above-mentioned steps taken by the government of Rivers state, FIRS had lodged an appeal against the above judgment,” Mr Ahmad added.

According to him, FIRS has also filed an application for stay of execution of the judgment “as well asking the court for an injunction pending the determination of the appeal.”

The Court of Appeal has not ruled on the appeal, and the federal high court has yet to deliver a ruling on FIRS’ applications for stay of execution and injunction.

Mr Ahmad urged the public to continue to comply with their VAT obligations until the appellate court resolves the matter.





https://gazettengr.com/vat-firs-threatens-taxpayers-amid-face-off-with-rivers-government/

FIRS is fighting a lost war.
Go to court and upturn the judgement if you are sure of yourself

Lol. Criminal firs obey court judgement

Noted

Why is the FG so clueless on how to generate funds? You can’t milk other state to feed those who cannot sustain themselves, while they sit idle doing nothing.

The companies will rather pay to Rivers State Government than the useless Federal Government sponsoring Terrorism and Banditry.

For those who don't know, the RESTRUCTURING we all in the south clamor for has started. No time to check time. No time to wait for a Dullard and rubber stamp Senate to do the needful. We will not pay tax for people in the north who don't pay tax to enjoy.. they destroy our alcoholic beverages and yet they share proceeds from tax collected from thesame alcohol. Who them dey deceive?
Let other southern states follow. It is a welcomed development.
Let state assembly bring laws that are favourable to their citizens just like Kano and their like brought Hisbah that their indigenous love. Let the restructuring continue.

Unless the FIRS doesn't want the rapid development of Nigeria,I wonder why they should even appeal the judgement.
I insist that VAT is consumption tax,it's a tax paid on whatever is consumed by people in a state.
The federal government has no business collecting VAT from the citizens of a state, especially in a country where some parts of the country openly reject the consumption of some items example is alcohol.
Government at all levels should resist these encroachment of taxes by the federal government,instead all state government should work hard to stimulate economic activities in their various states.
It's economic voodoo for a state that hasn't done anything to stimulate economic growth in his state to wait on another state to feed its citizens,that's why Nigeria is where it's today.
God bless Nigeria.

Wike is trying for now. It would be great if other southern governors follow suit...and take matters into their own hands cos if they keep waiting for the vegetable nd his simp handlers in Aso Rock, restructuring will never happen.

KaluwisxPRO:
Why is the FG so clueless on how to generate funds? You can’t milk other state to feed those who cannot sustain themselves, while they sit idle doing nothing.

same thing i have been saying. they are quick to rush and occupy sensitive positions, but don't know the first thing about making money. all they know is sit down inn cold offices and wait for their slaves to come and give them free money. the same thing is done at the ports. extort very ridiculous amounts of money when their services are the poorest.