Barely five days after the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) shut down the premises of Debonairs Pizza, the restaurant which serves as one of the leading destinations for pizza enthusiasts, is set to open a new outlet for business.
Nairametrics learnt that the new outlet will be opened today, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, around Victoria Garden City area of the state.
Why this matters: Debonairs Pizza had its commercial activities paralysed last week due to the closure after allegedly evading tax. Many people had expected that Debonairs should still be very much occupied with meeting up with its tax obligations, amongst other things, required for the reopening of the business by LIRS.
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Surprisingly, as at the time of filing this report, the pizza outlet had neither released an official statement nor give an update on the sanction imposed on it by the State revenue generating agency.
This is however worrisome as it remains unknown if the LIRS had lifted its sanction on Debonairs, and how the pizza company is responding to the shutdown.
Recall that Debonairs was shut down, alongside thirteen other companies (including several hospitality firms). The other companies include Piccolomondo Restaurant, Virgin Rose Resorts, Precinct Comfort Services, Villa Angelia Hotel, Allied Management Ltd., Ocean Suites, Sabitex Hotel, LCCI Hall, Extended Stay Hotel, Monarch Gardens Ltd., La Maison Hospitality Ltd., and Villa Toscana Hotel.
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While announcing the shutdown, the Director of Legal Service of LIRS, Seyi Alade, lamented that less than 65% of the corporate organisations in Lagos pay tax. According to him, the remaining companies in the state go about their various businesses without paying taxes to the Lagos State Government.
How old is this report? That is not the Chairman of LIRS. That is the Former Chairman.