Tribunal dismisses Multichoice’s appeal on $342m tax clearance

The Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) has dismissed the appeal by Multichoice Nigeria Limited of a $342 million tax payment backlog to Nigeria, saying the company did not comply with the rules of appeal.

South Africa’s Multichoice Africa Holdings B.V (MAH) is the owner of DStv, a satellite TV and GOtv a cable television.

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In the judgement delivered on Tuesday, the tribunal upheld the preliminary objection of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) noting that the company did not comply with Order 3 Rule 6 of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2021.

However, MultiChoice in a statement yesterday rejected Tuesday’s ruling of the TAT, which dismissed its appeal against the $342m Value Added Tax (VAT) bill slammed on it by FIRS.

The company said it will lodge an appeal against the ruling at the Federal High Court, adding that the TAT ruling was based on a technicality rather than the merits of the case.

 “MAH respectfully disagrees with the ruling, which was based on a technicality rather than the merits of the case. Therefore, we will be lodging an appeal at the Federal High Court against the ruling.

By Favour Aliyu