Tax tribunal settles over N10b disputes

The Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Kaduna State, with jurisdiction over the North West Zone, comprising six other states – Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa, has resolved tax disputes worth more than N10 billion.
 
The tribunal, with Umar Mohammed Adamu as Chairman, and Prof. Kabir Isa Dandago, Prof. Bayero Sabir Mohammed, Dr. Ahmed Kumshe, and Sameerah Abubakar Gwandu, as members, has in the last eight months been resolving tax disputes either filed by taxpayers or the revenue generating agencies.
 
Some of the disputes resolved have been lingering over the years, while others are between the states and federal government establishments.For example, the Tribunal had on July 17, resolved the long-standing dispute between the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU).
 
The Tax dispute filed in 2014, seemed to have defied all attempts for settlement until the hearing of the dispute commenced before the Panel.But interventions before the commencement of the hearing led to amicable resolution by both institutions, as the lead Counsel for the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, Francis Kozah, informed the tribunal of their settlement.
 
The development led to the receipt of about N4.7 million from the University by the state’s revenue agency, being the principal tax liability, less penalty and interest that was waived in the interest of the settlement.
 
While tendering the receipt of payment before the Panel, Kozah commended the Panel not just for the acceleration of proceedings, but for also giving the parties opportunity and time to reach settlement.In like manner, the tax dispute involving the Kaduna Polytechnic also received amicable settlement, as Counsel to the Appellant also tendered before the tribunal a payment receipt of N2.62 billion, being final payment of the disputed taxes, less penalty and interest, waived in the interest of an amicable settlement.
 
The same tribunal had earlier awarded Judgment in the sum of N63.82 million in favour of KIRS, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).Others include tax dispute between the Kano State Board of Internal Revenue (Appellant), and Bayero University Kano as first respondent; the Minister of Education, second respondent; and Minister of Finance, third respondent, since 2016.

The said disputed taxes were in the sum of N1.83 billion, but resolved in four months, with the respondents coming up with a payment plan, to offset the outstanding liability, to the satisfaction of all the parties.
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