The executive chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, says the service collected N70 billion taxes in 2024 while targeting N112 billion for 2025.

Mr Adams said this on Monday in Kaduna at a two-day Annual Performance Review, Work Plan, and Strategic Retreat 2025.

He said it was commendable that the KADIRS collection had improved from N62 billion in 2023 to N70 billion in 2024.

He explained that the service alone was tasked to generate N56 billion from the 2025 target.

On the Nigerian Tax Reform Bills 2024 and its implications, Mr Adams said the service must examine the reforms vis a viz the Nigerian Tax Bill 2024 currently being debated at the National Assembly and its implications on state revenue generation.

According to him, the tax reform bills introduced significant reforms to enhance tax administration, broaden the tax base, and foster a more business-friendly environment.

The KADIRS boss said that while the reforms align with national economic objectives,  they pose certain challenges for subnational revenue generation.

He mentioned some major implications of the reform bills including the modification of tax rates and the reallocation of tax revenue streams between federal and state governments.

“This may lead to adjustments in our revenue projection and require us to explore alternative avenues to sustain and expand our revenue base.

“The executive management committee of the service is carefully analysing the tax bill and its adverse effects on the state while formulating strategic responses to mitigate any negative impact.

“The bill will take away over 80 per cent of PAYE and eliminate consumption tax, among others. Hence, we need to look elsewhere while thinking outside the box,” he said.

Mr Adams said some key focus areas of  KADIRS in 2025 would be taxation of the digital economy, which has vast potential, and property tax.

He disclosed that for high-networth individuals, the service had signed an MoU with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for data collection and collaboration.

According to him, this is to ensure that the sets of people are properly captured and dragged into the tax net.

He added that the service would leverage technology in its ongoing digitisation efforts to block leakages and enhance transparency using the PAYKADUNA portal, its one-stop shop for all state revenue payments.

Mr Adams equally said they would enhance and prioritise interagency collaboration to ensure they meet the N112 billion target for 2025.

Speaking on staff welfare, he said for the first time in many years, the executive management committee had approved the payment of a 13th-month salary to all staffers, which was disbursed in December 2024.

“This, along with increased imprest payments, the provision of working tools and other welfare packages will continue going forward,” he said.

The Accountant General of the State, Bashir Zuntu, advised KADIRS to prioritise strategic revenue planning and management.

(NAN)