For their non compliance to meet their tax obligations, 30 business institutions have been named and shamed by the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
The acting Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Ousman Barrie, said the commission would use court action to fully recover all taxes due, including interests and penalties.
SAMCO Ltd. of 57 Sani Abacha Street, one of the defaulters owes NRA Le353, 551,936.98 in tax, making that company the highest defaulter in the list of 30.
Tajco of 30 Sani Abacha Street is the second highest defaulter owing Le326, 226, 966.91. Kay Tee Star of 7A Sani Abacha Street owes the least with 2,412,000.00
The 30 business entities together owed NRA the sum total of two billion eight hundred and eighty eight million three hundred and twenty three thousand three hundred and fifteen Leones and forty nine cents (2,888,323,315.49)
The acting Commissioner General admitted that there were also acute internal problems of staff integrity.
He pointed out that some of NRA staff were “revenue traders” rather than “revenue collectors”.
Mr Barrie said, “I know that some of them engage in transactions that constitute conflict of interest, like for example acting as clearing and forwarding agents for importers, or acting as income tax advisors for taxpayers.”
The acting Commissioner General stated that, “NRA has now initiated an internal review of its operations with a view to engaging in deep reforms to infuse efficiency and effectiveness in revenue administration”.
He pointed out that all this was with the view to maximizing revenue collection for the country’s development.
Mr Barrie said the NRA’s modernization plan was being facilitated by DFID which had been providing both moral and financial support.