In a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force, the Enforcement Team of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has successfully apprehended a gang of illegal tax collectors comprising six individuals in Kaduna State.
Speaking during a press conference held in Kaduna on Wednesday, Mr Zakari Muhammad, the Head of Corporate Communication at KADIRS, revealed the details of the operation.
The suspects were intercepted on August 9 along Muhammadu Buhari Way in the Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state. They were caught in the act of collecting cash from unsuspecting individuals, an activity considered unlawful.
This unlawful act directly contravenes Section 51 of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, 2020, which strictly prohibits the collection of cash as a form of taxation.
Mr Muhammad emphasized, “Notwithstanding any provision in any law on assessments, levying or collection of taxes, levies, revenues or surcharges in the state, no revenue shall be payable or collected in cash by any person or authority.”
He further explained that the acceptable modes of payment include bank drafts, electronic debits or credit cards, point of sales terminals, money transfer into the service’s bank account, and any other electronic means approved by the board for such purpose.
After apprehending the suspects, they were promptly handed over to the security operatives for thorough investigation and prosecution.
This joint operation serves as part of the commitment of Mr Jerry Adam, the acting Executive Chairman of KADIRS, to restore the confidence of taxpayers in the system. By sanitizing and promoting transparency in the state’s tax administration systems, KADIRS aims to build trust among its taxpayers.
The revenue service is urging the citizens of Kaduna State to report any activities involving illegal tax or revenue collectors. They can make use of the following numbers to report such cases: 09088743859, 08099414343, 07062020465, and 09088743853.
“We appreciate our esteemed taxpayers for their continuous collaboration, support, and understanding,” Mr Muhammad concluded.
