Governor Abiola Ajimobi

Oyo State Government said it would begin prosecution of tax evaders on Aug. 17 as part of efforts to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Mr Biyi Oloko, the Special Adviser, Board of Internal Revenue Service, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday.

He said that increased IGR would make the state government to be self-sustaining and enhance development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Direct Taxation, Withholding taxes for individuals, Capital Gains Tax are among the listed taxes.

Others are stamp duties on instruments executed by individuals, Road tax, Business Premises Registration, Development levy for individuals‎, Right of Occupancy fees on lands owned by State Government and land use charges.

He said that the state government was targeting at least one billion naira from outstanding taxes for the last two to three years.

“The Oyo State Government through the State Internal Revenue Service has put all the necessary machineries in place to ensure the enforcement of the tax laws.

“We advise all erring taxpayers to comply forthwith and ensure immediate payment of any outstanding taxes, fines and levies,’’ he said.

Oloko warned that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on taxable persons who failed to comply.

He said that a data bank on tax defaulters had been put in place to effectively arrest and prosecute tax evaders in state.

Oloko said that government would take full advantage of the provisions of the tax laws to apprehend and prosecute tax defaulters.

He said the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice would, through a rapid tax prosecution Process, begin prosecution of tax defaulters without further notice.

The commissioner said a joint enforcement team had been set up in conjunction with the local government councils to ensure a concerted approach to enforcement of tax laws.

Oloko said the state government had adopted electronic collection of revenues at all revenue points in the state as means of blocking leakages.

He urged all tax payers to desist from making cash payments to individuals other than the designated revenue accounts at any of the revenue collecting banks.

“Regular payment of taxes and levies will help government a lot in the provision of social services such as infrastructure, security, education and healthcare, etc,” he said.

He said the state revenue service had embarked on various advocacy and enlightenment programmes.

Oloko commended the people of the state who have continually supported the administration of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi through voluntary and prompt payment of their taxes. (NAN)