The Anambra State Government has intensified its revenue generation drive as the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) confirmed sending direct tax notices to Anambra indigenes and residents through text messages.
According to NAN, this was confirmed by the Head, Public Relations Unit, Personal Income Tax, AIRS, Mrs Sylvia Uzoma Ngige, who admitted that the text messages originated from the service.
Mrs Ngige explained that the charges are statutory obligations of earning citizens to the government, adding that it was a direct tax charged on the income of a person and that what was payable is dependent on the amount of income which the person earns from economic activities.
What the AIRS official is saying
Mrs Ngige said those who got the messages and claimed they lived outside Anambra should go to the online portal of the Service and file returns.
She said, “According to law, the government may impose a tax on PIT of an individual and entity, and a development levy which is a flat charge imposed on every taxable person typically within a State.
“In the case of those living outside Anambra, they must have obtained Anambra State Social Identity number (ANSSID) now Anambra State Identity Number (ASIN) and made a transaction with Anambra Government.
“ASIN is the citizens’ tax identification with the state, since he claimed he lives in Lagos and does business there, the expectation is that he should file a return and pay to the Lagos State government.
“They should also file a return to the Anambra government with evidence to prove that they declared all income in their states of residence and are not supposed to pay PIT to the Anambra government.’’
What is contained in the text message
A sample of the demand tax notice reads, “Dear …, you are in default of remitting N175,117.34 as Personal Income Tax for 2021 to ANSI. Pay now to avoid further penalties. www.Anambra.tax.”
However, some indigenes and residents of Anambra have since expressed their displeasure at the text messages and indiscriminate distribution of tax demand notices by AIRS, wondering how AIRS arrived at the sum for everyone despite the differences in their earnings.
They added that the same text messages were sent to even pensioners and some Anambra indigenes residing outside the state asking for the same amount as tax.
In case you missed it
Nairametrics had on March 29 reported that the Anambra State Government through the AIRS had announced that it will commence the enforcement of payment of all outstanding tax liabilities by businesses and individuals in the state with effect from April 1.
The outstanding tax bill which was put at N513.9 billion by the outgone Chairman of AIRS, Dr David Nzekwu, was captured in the agency’s database under the Anambra Social Service Identity (ANSSID) number and is owned by about 2.1 million taxpayers.
The newly appointed Executive Chairman of AIRS, Richard Madiebo, had urged Anambra residents to check the SSID portal for their status and, thereafter, proceed with relevant actions of filing and payment.
He said that those who were yet to pay should go to the nearest commercial bank with their ANSSID number to pay their taxes and/or levies.
I sincerely pray that the development levy has legal backing…and base for determining the rate for individuals….as flat rate is unethical.
The Management of the so-called Tax Agency for Anambra State are mad.. Someone went to renew his vehicle license and you insist he must obtain and ANSSID. After that you just sit down and computer indiscriminate amount running into N1.3 million starting from 2020 when he obtained the ANSSID till 2022. What this means is that anyone that registers his plate number with Anambra State must pay N480,000 pee.year as tax to Anambra State government. What of someone that is a civil that already is paying tax on PaYEE basis and you still charge him N480,000 per annum?
How do you calculate tax due to each resident or citizen?
This your ploy will not work.
Ndi Ara
Don’t mind them,I hope Governor Soludo will not be an oppressor in disguise.
Every year you pay N175,117.34 as Income tax,if you live in a flat in Awka you pay between N120, 000 to N150, 000 as estimated bill for electricity, landlord is waiting to collect up to N450,000, and many more, How much is your income. Nobody is talking about your other needs and responsibilities to your family. God help us in this nation It shall be well with Anambra state.
I am a retired civil servant from Ebonyi state ministry of health sii. My name is Imo Emmanuel Okoro