The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Ebonyi State has decried the absence of manufacturing company in the state, a development it said was the challenge facing the agency in the state.
In an interview with Kenneth Effiong, the tax controller, Abakaliki MTSO FIRS, who disclosed, though that majority of taxpayers in the state were civil servants, he noted that residents had been remitting their tax into government coffers accordingly.
According to Effiong, the residents of the state are working class compared to other states where there are high concentration of businessmen and companies.
He disclosed that from time to time the FIRS go to educate taxpayers in the state, thus the current enlightenment programme going on in the state, which will last for five days.
“We go out to educate taxpayers on tax matters and possibly bring them into tax payment. A lot of businessmen out there are complaining that they are not educated, not being put through on what tax is all about. So, with the backing of the management, we now decided to use three days to go out and educate taxpayers on tax matters, which is a routine job here as tax office.
“Compare to other states, Ebonyi state has been complying. Everyone knows about FIRS presently. The name FIRS is now a household name in the state. Every family that is into business knows about FIRS and they comply. I think I give them 60% compliance.
“Ebonyi taxpayers are trying. I give them 60%, but we have challenges. Number one, Ebonyi State not a business area and another thing, the people of Ebonyi, most of them are government workers. We do not really have businessmen in Ebonyi. And the ones we have are contractors, their tax comes when they are able to carry out contracts (projects) unlike in other states, that we have industries and major businesses.
Effiong maintained that tax awareness, which is a routine exercise, helps the taxpayers to pay their value added tax on or before 21st of every month.
He said within the week during the awareness exercise in Abakaliki, the enforcement team for failure to pay their tax had closed down some shops.
The tax controller, urged the taxpayers to try to pay their tax on time and avoid paying money to individual rather to bank that IFRS deal directly with bank therefore taxpayers in the state should not fail into the hands of touts.
He said his office is open for enquiries and further directive as may arise.
