…as Ekiti IGR jumps from N650m to N2 billion per month
The Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS), Mr. Olaniran Olatona has attributed the tremendous increase in the State’s Internally Generated Revenue in recent times to the improved efficiency in the operations of the State Internal Revenue Service and the fact that people of the State have continued to appreciate the developmental strides of Governor Biodun Oyebanji Administration
Mr. Olatona who made this disclosure while featuring on Ekiti Today/Ekiti Loni, a live simulcast radio programme on radio said
more people can see what Government is doing with the “tax payers money”
He disclosed that the State IRS has in the last two years been able to increase the State monthly internally generated revenue from N650 million in 2023 to over N2billion per month this year.
The State IRS Boss disclosed that 80 percent of the State IGR comes from Personal Income Tax
He appreciated taxpayers for their support in achieving this milestone, emphasizing the importance of tax compliance in complementing Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s commitment to good governance.
Olatona disclosed that contrary to insinuations that the State IRS has been making life unbearable for business owners, available records show that more people now willingly pay their taxes without being prompted than what obtained in the past.
The Chairman urged owners of businesses in the State to cooperate with tax officials by presenting their financial records such as the receipts of past payments, audited accounts of their business outfits and the statements of their accounts when requested by tax officials
He explained that, in cases where business owners fail to provide financial records, the Agency applies the “best of judgment” principle to determine tax obligations.
Olatona encouraged taxpayers to always visit the EKIRS to address any challenge about their tax assessments.
He reassured taxpayers that their tax assessments will be reviewed if they could present their supporting documents.
“Revenue officials from time to time also conduct visits to shops and offices to assess appropriate tax payments,” he stated.
He reminded taxpayers that they have a 30-day window to file objections if they disagree with their tax assessments.
The Ekiti IRS Boss underscored the benefits of potential collaboration between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the State Internal Revenue Service and the Local Councils Rates Department in introducing innovative approaches to tax administration.
He said talks were already ongoing on the possible collaboration among the three tiers of government particularly in the area of one agency collecting revenue on behalf of others, stressing that if adopted and properly implemented, the move would increase revenue accruable to the three tiers of government, reduce cost of revenue generation and also reduce number of agencies demanding for payment from individuals and corporate bodies.
While appealing to owners of landed property in the State to pay their Land Use Tax, Olatona said the tax was not usually more than N10,000 per annum.
He said as part of efforts to have credible information and updated records of taxable citizens and corporate organizations in the State as well as part of steps to ultimately boost IGR accruable to the State, the State IRS had established the Data Intelligence Department to help operations of the Service.
Last modified: February 28, 2025
