The Borno State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) is to seize property of UN agencies over non-payments of income and withholding taxes to the state government.
The seven tax defaulters, included World Health Organisation (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and three others operating in the state.
Announcing the seizures, yesterday, in Maiduguri, Chairmen of BIRS, Muhammad Alkali disclosed that; “Taxes are compulsory contributions to the state revenues, levied on workers’ income and profits from business outfits.”
He said the UN agencies’ offices and staff domiciled in the state are to comply with the payments of taxes to the government.
He noted that the affected agencies are, however; exempted from payments of taxes from their operational funds.
Continued: “They are mandated by the provisions of the 2004 Personal Income Tax Act to remit the state government PAYE and withholding tax of UN agencies’ staff and their contractors.”
He explained that the agencies in the taxpayers category have complied with the provisions of tax laws.
Alkali lamented that despite a series of efforts and engagements with UN agencies; there was no avail since June, 2021.
According to him, the UN agencies are enjoined to respect and comply with the local laws of the States they operate to render humanitarian services.
He said: “Our reasons to demand for data on agencies’ Nigerian staff and enterprise contractors however, proved abortive.
“We’re left with no option, but to employ legitimate means in paying income and withholding taxes,” he said; stating that the UN agencies have been served notices to seize properties of the tax defaulters.
He warned that the payments are to lapse on February 24, 2022.
“Letters of reminders and notification that the enforcement powers of BIRS under PAYE shall be invoked against tax defaulters,” as there has been no response from the defaulting UN agencies till date.
He therefore called on the agencies to respect laws and constituted authorities to comply in paying income and withholding taxes to the government.
