Taxation: Lagos laments default by professionals

Kunle Awosiyan Lagos - 12.05.2009

LAGOS State government has expressed worry over non-payment of tax by professionals working in the metropolis. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Ade Ipaye, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, the government said that most professionals working in Lagos do not pay their taxes because they are not aware of laws and regulations guiding the payment.

According to the statement, a recent review of income tax compliance levels in Lagos indicated that default was particularly high among self employed professionals.

It stated that the situation was made worse by the fact that the professionals were expected to take responsibility not only for their own tax payments but also for that of their employees.

Commenting on the situation, Ipaye lamented that those who paid among the professional did not always remit the actual amount, saying, “it was found that under-payment and under-remittance were quite common.”

The special adviser said that in view of the anomaly, the government would be organising a seminar to sensitise the professionals on the need to pay their taxes regularly.

“The first of these seminars will be organised for legal practitioners in partnership with Internal Revenue Service and three NBA branches in Lagos State,” he said.