The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) on Wednesday sealed Bodex Telecom Nig. Ltd. for allegedly refusing to remit about N5 million income taxes.
The LIRS’s enforcement team sealed the telecom company at No 11, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, in Lagos, around 10:30 a.m.
Folasade Coker-Afolayan, the Head of the enforcement unit, said that the company defaulted in the remittance of the Personal Income Taxes of its workers.
“We decided to seal the company because it owed the Lagos State Government N5 million. The amount is the workers’ income taxes from 2008 to 2010. The company’s administrative office will not be re-opened for business until the tax liability is remitted,” she said.
Coker-Afolayan said that the state government had earlier written the management of the company on the need to remit the taxes.
She said that the company relocated from Lagos Island to Oregun– so as to evade paying tax.
According to her, LIRS had no alternative than to seal the offices used by the company when its management failed to respond to the state government request.
She said that payment of taxes was a civic responsibility of everyone.
Coker-Afolayan said that government needed the taxes to provide infrastructure for economic growth and improved standard of living.
“Tax payment is a civic responsibility of everyone because it enables government to provide adequate infrastructure for the people,” she said.
She warned the company against making the move of re-opening its premises for business, saying LIRS would further file criminal charges against the company if it should do so.
Coker-Afolayan also warned that it was a criminal offence to assault the LIRS personnel while on official duty.
However, an accountant of the sealed company, who pleaded anonymity, said that the company’s relocation had nothing to do with tax evasion.
The source said the relocation was because business was very dull on the Island, and that the company had many customers around Oregun.
He, however, frowned at the manner the government was enforcing its tax laws.
Follow Us