FIRS Records 20% Increase In Tax Compliance, Promise To Create Healthy Business Environment
L-R: Mrs Dapo Awolowo (Head, Office of the Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS); Mr. Dare Adekanmbi (Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman); Mr. Charles Okonji (National Chairman, Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CICAN); Mr. Femi Olarinde (Special Adviser on Tax Policy) and Mr. Sikiru Akinola (Technical Assistant, Media) at the FIRS Media Parley with CICAN members in Lagos on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said in less than one year, through its simplified tax processes that enable taxpayers enjoy personalised services, the nation’s tax compliance has increased by 20℅.
The Agency also promised to create a healthy environment for businesses to thrive.
This was made known by the Special Adviser to the Chairman FIRS on Tax Policy, Femi Olarinde during a media briefing with the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) held in Lagos.
He explained that since Dr. Adedeji assumed office in September last year the agency has transformed tax operation in the country through its simplification of tax processes, increased tax education and among other initiatives.
“We have achieved remarkable success in simplifying tax processes by offering personalised services and enhancing tax education. Increase tax compliance by 20%,” he stated.
He said that over 170,000 tax payers has been enrolled in last one year. He added that it recorded 81% of tax collection in the first quarter of 2024, amounting to N3.94 trillion.
“Adedeji’s regime has also revolutionised tax office operations into a streamlined ‘one-stop shop’ catering to diverse taxpayers by their categories: Large taxpayer, Medium taxpayer, and Small taxpayer. This has improved customer satisfaction and significantly reduced customer complaints between the 4th quarter of 2023 and the 1st quarter of 2024”.
He explained further that customers complaint has reduced significantly because of its simplified processes.
“FIRS has integrated nine new modules on our tax administration system called TaxProMax, which has automated over 80 per cent of manual processes.
“We have also revolutionalised tax office operation into a streamlined ‘One stop shop’ catering to diverse taxpayers by their categories: Large taxpayer, Medium taxpayer and Small taxpayer.
“This has improved customer satisfaction and has significantly reduced customer complaints between the 4th quarter of 2023 and the 1st quarter of 2024.
“Since September last year when the new Chairman came on board, FIRS has brought additional over 170,000 new tax payers into the tax net, ” he pointed out.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the FIRS Chairman on Media, Mr. Dare Adekanmbi, reiterated the FIRS’ commitment to creating a healthy environment for businesses to thrive, saying that “FIRS does not tax the seed but the fruits, so that the industries and businesses would continue to have seeds to sow and flourish because as they flourish, FIRS will also flourish.
“Today the allocations for states and local governments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have been increased and the states governors are smiling to banks whenever the allocations are shared.
“There is joy in the faces of governors and local government chairmen every month when they collect their allocations. FIRS is the Agency that brings the joy to them and that is what Dr. Sacch Adedeji has been doing since he came. as the Chairman of FIRS.”
