No fewer than 20 companies and 500 individuals have so far complied with the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) in Kwara State.
This was disclosed by Leader of the Community Tax Liaison Officers (CTLOs), Barr. Paul Ajiroba during an interview with Pilot Business on Tuesday.
Recall that the Federal Government extended the deadline for the VAIDS to 30 June, 2018.
The Scheme provides a platform for non-compliant taxpayers to make honest declarations to the tax authorities and pay the required taxes in exchange for a waiver of accruing interests and penalties.
Ajiroba said, ” When we started campaigning and sensitising the public on the importance of keying in by declaring their assets, people were reluctant in Kwara State.
“We let them know that declaring their assets will enhance revenue generation through tax collection by federal, state and local governments, which will in return be used for infrastructural development. With this conviction people began to embrace the scheme.
” Going by our statistics about 20 companies and not less than 500 individuals have keyed into the programme in the state. More people are willing to declare their assets if there is opportunity,” he added.
The CTLO leader then called on other tiers of government to support President Buhari’s led administration by providing basic amenities so that the people can enjoy the dividends of paying their taxes.
Ajiroba, however, called on the Federal Government to change the tax system so that the rich will pay more and poor people pay less in the country.
On their sensitisation programme, he noted that apart from covering Ilorin metropolis, some of his team members were deployed to Kwara north and Kwara south senatorial districts to reach people at the grassroots.
He said, ” The penetration of the scheme to these people have started yielding positive result with the level of compliance.
“Kwarans are trying in terms of tax payment/remittances considering the fact that the state has been rated as the fifth in the last few months among other states of the federation by the federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).”
