Chartered Institute Of Taxation Nigeria (CITN): States Streamlining Taxes, An End To Multiple Tax Systems

The President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria, Samuel Agbeluyi, has disclosed that ahead of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms full-year report, certain governors are already streamlining the different taxes they collect within their states, signalling the end of multiple tax systems.

This was disclosed by Agbeluyi at the Pre-Conference press briefing for the 26th Annual Tax Conference themed ‘Sustainable Tax Culture and Economic Roadmap for Nation Building’ to be held in Abuja next month.

He said, “The presidential tax committee, under the leadership of Taiwo Oyedele, has helped some states in reducing their tax collections from 65 to 10, thereby bringing sanity within the tax system."

According to Agbeluyi, “There is no civilised society globally that tolerates road blockades. In regions where roads are still blocked and unaffiliated groups are collecting taxes, we must cease this practice. Taxpayers hold a position of importance and deserve respect. By treating them with reverence, they are likely to cooperate willingly.

“We commend the customer-focused strategy of the new Federal Inland Revenue Service, as this approach is followed globally. The sub-nationals don’t need to tax people into poverty, especially people that earn very low."

He further urged the governments to establish partnerships with wealthy individuals, courteously engage them, express gratitude, and enhance revenue collection from them. This approach aligns with international standards and practices.

He said, “Let us refrain from taxing poverty. I have confidence that individuals at the sub-national levels are listening to this advice."

Agbeluyi expressed that the institute is currently training some workers at the state internal revenue on how to track and generate income and also profiling Nigerians, especially the people who engage in spending sprees and flaunt their money on social media.

He further advised that, “An independent State Internal Revenue Service should operate independently from the State Ministry of Finance, and states that have adopted this model have seen positive results.

“We must shift our focus from solely concentrating on the federal government to also paying attention to the sub-national entities.

“Nigeria’s growth cannot be achieved by solely concentrating on the federal government," he added.