The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has sealed Regency Hotels, a school, and three business premises in the capital city for tax evasion.

The FCT-IRS acting director of legal services, Festus Tsavsar, who led the enforcement team, explained that the closure of the premises was in line with a court order obtained by the IRS. 

The school and business premises are Gratias International School, Rural and Urban Homes Ltd, Trevari International Company, and Phenomenon International Company.

Mr Tsavsar explained that the hotel and business premises contravened FCT tax laws by refusing to file their annual returns despite issuing several notices, including a court summons.    

“Today, we went out to execute the court orders, which ordered the FCT-IRS to seal off the premises of defaulting taxpayers brought before it.

“The offence they committed was the refusal to file their annual returns in spite of many notices, including a court summon, but the school management refused to comply.

“We are at their premises, and the management refused to attend to us and refused to open their doors, in spite of many calls for them to do so to enable us to enforce the court order,” he said.

Mr Tsavsar expressed concern over the continued refusal by the school’s management to comply with the tax law.

According to him, the action is simply tax evasion, which is a criminal offence. 

He added that to worsen the case, the management had changed their name to DGIS College to evade tax payments.

“This is also a criminal offence,” said Mr Tsavsar. “The school has not been paying their taxes at all and refused to file their annual returns since establishment.”  

From the school, the team proceeded to Residency Hotels, No. 4, Port Harcourt Crescent, Area II, Garki, where it was also sealed for not filing annual returns.

“From there, we went to seal off Rural Urban Homes Ltd in Utako and two business premises residing in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, namely Trevari International Company and Phenomenon International Company,” Mr Tsavsar said.

He warned the affected business owners against any attempt to unseal the premises and advised them to go to court to obtain a court order before they could do so.

“If they go against the court order and unseal the premises by themselves, they have committed a criminal offence, and the court will order their arrest.

“They will be prosecuted in line with the tax law, particularly section 81 of Personal Income Tax Law, and upon conviction, they will be jailed for six months in addition to a fine,” he added.  

Mr Tsavsar warned that FCT-IRS would go after all tax-defaulting companies and individuals and advised taxpayers to comply with existing tax laws, pay their taxes, and file their annual returns.

(NAN)