Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has been sensitising taxpayers and stakeholders on how to claim 10 per cent of tax they paid in 2019.The event took place at Women Development Centre, Awka.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AIRS, Dr David Nzekwu, explained that since COVID-19 pandemic made business owners and traders in Anambra to close shops and businesses there was need to support them.
So, Gov. Willie Obiano has graciously approved a 10 per cent of what every trader and business owner in Anambra State paid as tax in 2019 refunds to them.What this means is that for that importer, who paid a tax of a million in 2019 is expected to have a refund of N100,000 to support them in their businesses,’’ Nzekwu said.He outlined steps to be taken by traders who paid their tax in 2019 to claim 10 per cent of what they paid.
“All you should do is to log on to Anambra State Internal Revenue Service website: www.airs.an.gov.ng to make the claims. There, you will see clearly written, ‘Claim COVID-19 Package’.If you click there, it will take you to your account with AIRS, on which you will log in with your email address. Then apply for tax credit, which is COVID-19 Package.
“Then, you provide your BVN and your 10 digit account number. If it corresponds with the one you submitted with AIRS, it will be processed and credited to you.At any moment you want to know the status of your claim, you can log on to your account. It is a simple process.’’He said that whoever encountered problems claiming his refunds should visit AIRS or request for a zoom meeting with AIRS.
Dr Nzekwu also said that the effect of COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected bus and shuttle drivers as well as tricycle and motorcycle riders.So, the Government had to take a decision to wave all daily operational permits that bus and keke drivers and other people that are in the transport industry pay.The Government also said that we need to accommodate the elderly people. So, food items, bags of rice, tin tomatoes and other things were distributed to every community in the state.’’
He mentioned that AIRS had introduced innovations such as Community Revenue Officers, changes in mode of billing from manual to automatic and security features on AIRS documents like QR code.Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don Adinuba, said that it was a mortal sin not to pay tax.If you read Matthew chapter 17:24-27, you will see that Jesus Christ who is God paid his tax.
Also in the Bible, the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was right to pay tax and he said ‘yes’. This means that it is a sin not to pay tax.’’Josephine Chukwuma, a trader at Onitsha Main Market, asked if their taxes and levies go to government purse, to which President, Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Mr IK Ekwegbalu answered in the affirmative.I want to tell you that all the taxes and levies paid at the main market go to the government purse. None of them goes to ASMATA’s account.
“So traders should pay their taxes as the law stipulates.’’Chairman, Hotel Associations, Awka Central, Mr Dilim Okafor, expressed happiness that details of his payments were emailed immediately.I was so happy that I saw the tax I paid to government in my email account. So there is need for one to see evidence of tax he paid.’’Chairman, Awka-Onitsha Bus Operators Association (AOBOA) a division of Urban Drivers Welfare Association of Anambra State (UDWAAS), Mr Fred Nweke, urged AIRS to check excess money tax agents add to the approved amount.
I appeal to you people to check the excesses the tax agents add to the approved amount that one has to pay as tax.For instance, if it is N10, the tax agent will make it N100. This is too much on the masses.’’
Chairman Anambra State Civil Society Network, Chris Azor, President, UDWAAS, Mr Nnamdi Okafor, were among dignitaries that graced the occasion.
