Edo places tax certificate as precondition to access public services, others

The Edo State Government has placed the possession of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) as precondition for accessing public services and some commercial transactions in the state. In a statement, the Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue (EIRS), Igbinidu Inneh, said that the measure is being taken to ensure that taxable citizens meet their civic duties. He charged all Federal and State Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (F&SMDAs), Local Government Councils, Commercial Banks, as well as companies and enterprises operating in Edo State, to demand from individuals, verifiable tax clearance certificate with regards to application for MDA approvals and licenses, foreign exchange control permission to remit funds outside Nigeria, and distributorship of goods and services.

The statement further added that the demand for TCC, covering three preceding years, is in line with Section 85 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) as amended. The statement urged all concerned to ensure strict compliance, as failure to comply, the affected organisation stands the risk of being fined the sum of five million Naira (N5million) or three years imprisonment or both, on conviction. Recall that the state government embarked on a comprehensive campaign to name-and-shame firms and high-net worth individuals who were defaulting in their tax obligations. Up to 150 firms have been distrained since the commencement of the exercise, as officials are visiting more business premises to implement the name-and-shame directive.