Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), on Wednesday, reiterated the importance of tax to economic and infrastructural development, warning that defaulters could no longer hide in the state.

The agency’s head of department, corporate planning, Muhammed Audu, in a sensitisation programme held in Ilorin on Wednesday, also enlightened the citizens on new tax reforms.

The programme is tagged “Enhancing Tax Compliance through Stakeholders’ Sensitisation and Engagement”.

Mr Audu, while delivering a paper on the implication of non-compliance, said the programme was to reawaken citizens’ responsibility to tax payment compliance and enlighten stakeholders on new tax reforms.

Mr Audu said the failure to pay tax, underreporting income, non-filling annual returns, overstating deductions and not remitting within record time attract penalties.

“The penalties are N50,000 for individuals and N500,000 for corporate organisations or six months imprisonment.

“Non-compliance causes risks to the government in the form of putting pressure on the government, loss of revenue and increase in debt,” he said.

Warning that tax defaulters no longer have a hiding place in the state, he urged the public to be self-compliant to avoid incurring more expenses.

“No hiding place for tax defaulters again in Kwara.

“We have your records. We have the power to ask banks for your bank statements, but we respect you so much and that’s why we ask you to bring your bank statements.

“There is punishment for tax defaulters or declaration of false statements. Please, always provide us with the true situation of your income to avoid punishment.

“We want to reduce the level of non-compliance, thus the need to discuss with taxpayers.

“We don’t want to be tyrannical, and that’s why you have been invited for discussion.

“Tax compliance is still low in Kwara State as some taxable adults and businesses still try to evade tax payments,” he said.

Earlier, KW-IRS chairman, Shade Omoniyi, said the programme became necessary because of the lack of adequate information and knowledge on the part of taxpayers.

This, she said, had been hindering the agency’s performance, just as she described taxation as the lifeblood of any economy.

She said the government could only provide critical infrastructure, quality education, healthcare and other essential public services through faithful payment of taxes.

“However, tax compliance remains a significant hurdle, and addressing this challenge requires deliberate strategies, collaboration, and continuous stakeholder dialogue.

“Today’s programme has been thoughtfully designed to address some of the pressing issues surrounding tax compliance and to provide practical insights for all stakeholders,” she said.

One of the participants, Mohammed Abdullahi, told journalists that the event was an eye-opener.

Mr Abdullahi urged business owners to be honest and shun tax evasion, saying that the state’s desired economic and infrastructural development rested on tax compliance.

(NAN)