Experts reject double taxation in Anambra
Tax
• Seek citizens prompt payment to attract development
Experts in the financial sector have condemned double taxation of individuals, organisations and institutions by corrupt persons in Anambra State, but encouraged citizens to continue meeting their civic obligations, voluntarily, including prompt payment of taxes to enable government have enough revenue to fund its development projects.
They spoke at the inauguration and investiture ceremony of the Pioneer Coordinator of the Society of Women In Taxation (SWIT), Lady Ifeoma Obieri, and her Executives, in Awka, yesterday, when honours were conferred on a don, Prof. Ngozi Anyikwa; an industrialist, Lady Maria Ihionu and a notable philanthropist, Dr. Loretta Ukeji.
In an inaugural lecture at the occasion, the founding Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Onitsha and District Society, said creation of awareness about tax payment should be a priority to enable citizens and entrepreneurs know they are not being extorted, but making civic obligation necessary for development.
Obieri, who is the President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), hinted that depending of democracy has connection with tax payment, stressing that when the people own their democracy, they easily and voluntarily pay their taxes.
He said that government should make tax affordable to get services from government. She maintained that rather than exclude the poor, government should tax them minimally, even as he urged government to use private enterprises as off-takers to achieve overall development.
Speaking after her inauguration, Obieri said women in tax administration would embark on sensitisation of citizens on essence of tax payment, which would be aimed at revolutionising the attitude of taxpayers towards their civic responsibility.
The SWIT pioneer Coordinator, who is a Tax Consultant, hinted that the organisation would work to awaken tax administrators to the responsibility of better service delivery, constant enlightenment on tax matters and proper engagement with government on the social pact with citizens, as well as the need to fulfill its part of the pact to promote better society.
She pointed out that SWIT would partner with the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) to drive revenue collection in the state through regular radio-television talk shows to get citizens informed on the issue of tax payment for economic development, reminding citizens that late or non-payment of taxes attract penalties.
