FCT-IRS embarks on weeklong tax sensitization campaign to boost IGR

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has embarked on a weeklong tax sensitization campaign to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and achieve its 2022 revenue target.

Haruna Abdullahi, FCT-IRS Acting Chairman, who led the tax sensitization drive on Tuesday, in Abuja, said the aim of the weeklong exercise was to create awareness in the minds of residents that FCT-IRS, charged with tax revenue generation, existed.

Abdullahi said that the exercise was also aimed at enlightening the public on their civic responsibilities to file in their annual tax returns and pay taxes as and when due.

He said, “From today, quite a number of people will know that FCT-IRS has come to stay and it is providing very important national service. We will also educate people on their responsibilities to file their tax returns and  pay tax.

“We expect individuals to file in their tax returns by March 31, while corporate organizations should do so by January 31.

“What we are doing today is to create awareness so that more people can file in their tax returns, pay their taxes geared towards hitting our over  N200 billion target for 2022.

“We noticed that some people do not understand their responsibilities, that is why we are doing the enlightenment to get them know their responsibilities or be sanctioned by the law.

“Our intention is not to close down any business, but to encourage people to come up with more businesses as they exercise their civic responsibilities.

Abdullahi said that the enlightenment campaign would be carried out in the six area councils of the FCT, adding that every second week of January would be an enlightenment campaign week.

The chairman further disclosed that FCT-IRS has a call centre which helps in addressing the challenges of people who do not understand the English language.

According to him, at the call centre, different languages could be spoken, adding that most of its programs on  radios were delivered in different languages.

“It is an issue at the management level and we are looking at ways to make it more efficient in addressing people who do not understand English,” he said.