The enforcement team of the Oyo State Internal Revenue Service (OYSIRS) at the weekend arrested a businessman in the Ogbomoso area of the state for breaking the official seal and locks on his business premises over the weekend.
The middle-aged man was immediately handed over to the police for prosecution.
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The man, whose name was not made available to journalists, had his office locked for not paying accumulated tax returns to the coffers of the state despite repeated reminders.
Acting Chairman, Oyo State Internal Revenue Service(OYSIRS), Alhaji Mubasiru Toyin Azeez, who effected the arrest, made this known after an inter-ministerial enforcement exercise embarked upon by OYSIRS and other ministries that generate revenue for the state government.
Alhaji Azeez hinted that payment of taxes, levies and dues are statutory obligations required by law that whoever generates or earns income should pay to the government.
The acting chairman said, “All business owners should file in their annual returns on or before 31st March of the following year while corporate organisations should do same on or before 31st January of the following year.
“Enforcement is the last resort to get taxpayers and business owners to be responsible and responsive to their civic duty by paying what is due to the government in terms of taxes, levies and others as prescribed by the law.
“There cannot be enforcement if people comply. It comes as the last resort after all persuasion and conditions have been satisfied. Letters and reminders have been served. Also, newspaper adverts and jingles were used to inform the taxpayers so that there would be no need for any excuse to claim ignorance,” he added.
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