Don’t pay taxes into private accounts, Taraba revenue board warns

The Taraba State Internal Revenue Service has issued a stern warning to residents and business owners, prohibiting them from paying taxes into private accounts. The agency insists that all tax remittances must strictly adhere to approved government payment channels.

Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa (Retd), Chairman of the Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue Service, delivered this warning during a statewide sensitization campaign on new tax reform initiatives in Jalingo. The campaign, which gathered traders' associations, market women, and bankers, aimed to educate taxpayers on the new tax laws and foster voluntary compliance.

Faransa emphasized that no individual is authorized to collect taxes on behalf of the government through private accounts. "We will not tolerate any act capable of undermining the state's revenue system," he stated. "Anyone caught defrauding the government through illegal tax collection or diversion of revenue will face the full weight of the law."

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No individual is authorised to collect taxes on behalf of the government through private accounts. Taxpayers should only use approved payment channels and deal with authorised revenue officers.

The sensitization exercise also sought to strengthen public confidence in the state's revenue system and ensure a clear understanding of the ongoing tax reforms. Faransa urged citizens to embrace these reforms, highlighting taxation as a crucial element for development and the delivery of public services. He assured that the state government is committed to transparency in managing revenues for infrastructure and other public needs.

Participants at the campaign reportedly found the exercise to be timely and beneficial, believing it would help curb illegal tax collection practices and improve taxpayer compliance.

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We will not tolerate any act capable of undermining the state’s revenue system. Anyone caught defrauding the government through illegal tax collection or diversion of revenue will face the full weight of the law.