Taxation: Fowler shares Lagos experience with Cross River

 

The immediate past Chairman of the Federal Internal Revenue Service who was formerly the Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service between 1999 to 2007, Mr. Baba Tunde Fowler has shared his experience with the Cross River Internal Revenue Service on how they can grow a Sustainable Revenue and Tax Base in Cross River State.

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Mr. Fowler was a keynote speaker in a one-day workshop organised by the Cross River Internal Revenue Service with the theme, “Growing a Sustainable Revenue and Tax Base in Cross River State” told his audience, including the acting Executive Chairman of Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS),Prince Edwin Okon how he succeeded to grow Lagos State tax payers register from 500,000 in 1999 to 4.5million by 2005.

He emphasised the need for a collective effort and single purpose agenda by all agencies of government collaborating with the Internal Revenue Service board.

He charged the CRiRS to leverage on the gains of technology as well as the gains of working with the Joint Tax Board of the federal government who also embarks on joint tax audit most times.


He advised that a target most be to be able to generate an internal revenue that can fund and cover the State recurrent Budget envelop.

In his words, “everybody who resides in Cross River State owes the state that obligation to pay their taxes.

He admonished the tax administrators not to be high-handed and punitive at all times in their measures of tax collection, stressing that when people refuses to pay tax, it is not most times the fault of the government but the tax administrators.

“Some people think that tax payment is against the poor, that’s far from the truth. The issue of tax payment is an issue that involves everybody.

“You can follow up dormant taxpayers with technology by having a consolidated taxpayers database. Even though technology is expensive, leverage with the existing technology for increase in tax payment.”

Speaking at the workshop, the acting Executive Chairman of Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS),Prince Edwin Okon, thanked Mr Fowler for the experiences he has shared.

He revealed that about 100, 000 prospective tax payers are recorded as dormant in the State tax register and they are working the verify those that can be reactivated while targeting growth of the tax base

In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Mike Odere who was represented by Mrs Atim Ekpenyong urged participants to take the workshop serious, while emphasising that without a strong revenue and tax system, the state will not be able to carry out serious assignments considering its dwindling federal allocation.

The lead trainer and an executive of Lani Consulting firm, Mr. Ani Charles Bassey-Eyo emphasize the need for government to be transparent in its dealings in order to gain public trust that will in turn enhance tax compliance.