The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service on Thursday said it has sealed six companies for allegedly defaulting in remitting taxes to the tune of N17.9 million.
The Head of LIRS Enforcement Unit, Mrs. Folasade Coker-Afolayan, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the companies failed to remit the workers’ income taxes.
She said that the companies failed to remit the taxes in the last six years.
Coker-Afolayan said that the companies had been warned not to reopen until they had settled the tax liabilities with the state government.
“For now, these properties belong to the Lagos State Government until they pay their tax liabilities to the government.
“It is a criminal offence to break government’s seal,” Coker-Afolayan said.
She said that tax remittance was not a necessity, but a civic responsibility of everyone, adding that prompt remittance of taxes would enable government to function effectively.
She reiterated that the Personal Income Amendment Act of 2011 provided that the tax authority to seal firms which defaulted in paying taxes.
Coker-Afolayan urged companies to remit their workers’ personal income taxes promptly to avoid being embarrassed.
She advised companies to cooperate with tax officials as it was a crime to assault a tax official on lawful duty.