FG to ban tax defaulters from making overseas trips

    
The Federal Government has said it is working on an arrangement where the presentation of Tax Clearance Certificate would be made a compulsory requirement to be met by all Nigerians who intend to make overseas travel.

The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Alh Kabir Mashi, stated this at the Centennial Trade Fair organized by the Abuja Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture. The fair also provided a platform for Nollywood actors to educate Nigerians about their tax obligations. Mashi said that federal government would no longer tolerate the practice of tax evasion adding that the payment of taxes was vital for economic development.

TCC is a document, issued by the FIRS or by a State Board of Internal Revenue, indicating the holder has been cleared of his tax liabilities in the past three years as at the day of issuance. He said, “For a few who may have decided to still run against the law, please note that very soon you won’t be able to do business or travel abroad- I mean any part of the world-without evidence of tax payment and attestation, otherwise called Tax Clearance Certificates.”

Mashi, who was represented by the Coordinating Director, Direct Reports Group, Mrs. Queensley Seghosime, noted that it was against the law to do transactions with companies and entities that have no Taxpayer Identification Number.

“To our partners in the Non-Governmental Organisations, note that in addition to registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission, you are also under obligation to register with the tax authorities, obtain a TIN and file your annual tax returns with the FIRS,’’ he added.

Also speaking at the event, President of ABUCIMMA, Mr. Solomon Nyagba called for a stronger collaboration between ABUCCIMA and the FIRS to ease the process of paying taxes