Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service has sealed off the construction site of a Chinese firm located in Ado-Ekiti for an alleged N71.761 million tax default.
The Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Agency, Mr. Isola Akingbade who led an enforcement team to the site, explained that the action was consequent upon the failure of Hongye Ampic Concept Ltd to comply with the personal income Tax Act (PITA) of 2006.
Mr. Akingbade stressed that the agency followed due process adding that the action was carried out after a court order was duly obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to him, several efforts had earlier been made to ensure payment of the tax due after it was discovered through a tax audit that the company was heavily indebted to the state government.
Flaying the nonchalant attitude of many foreign contractors to payment of taxes, the state IRS boss noted that such unwholesome position is not acceptable in their home countries and warned that government would no longer tolerate tax evasion.
Mr. Akingbade wondered why a company whose fleet of heavy duty trucks enormously contribute to the short lifespan and incessant damage of roads that were constructed with taxpayers’ money in the state would evade tax.
He warned that the site would not be reopened until the company pays the total amount outstanding tax debt and appealed to individuals and corporate organizations affected by the development to prevail on the tax defaulters to obey the laws of the land.
Commending those that are faithful in paying their taxes, Akingbade emphasized the need for defaulter to repent and start paying their taxes as required by the law and in order to enable government have funds to fulfill its obligation to the people and develop the society.
Efforts to speak with the contractors or their agents who were sighted around the construction site were unsuccessful as they declined to be interviewed by journalists.
Last modified: May 14, 2014
