N1.2bn Tax Assessment: FIRS apologises to Tax Appeal Tribunal for late process filing

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Tuesday apologised to the Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Abuja for the delay in serving processes on an appellant, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN), in the case of alleged N1.2 billion error in taxation.

Daudu said he was dissatisfied with the FIRS assessments of his Withholding Tax (WHT), Personal Income Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) for the period from 2010 to 2017.

Specifically, he expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to assess him with respect to WHT and VAT in the sum of N 1, 226, 115, 562.33.

He, therefore, prayed the tribunal to restrain FIRS.

At the resumed sitting, Mr Abedayo Adedeji, counsel for Dauda, told the Tribunal that FIRS served them a witness statement on oaths only this morning.

He said that on the face of it, it necessitated a response from them, (the appellant) according to him “we have not been properly served.”

In his response, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan SAN, counsel for FIRS apologised for the delay in serving the appellant as the respondent was trying to get all the processes served which did not work out as planned.

He told the tribunal that they however have other processes to serve on the appellant but had served only one this morning and would serve the remaining before the next adjourned date.

The tribunal, which was presided over by Mrs Alice Iriogbe, adjourned sitting until April 16, for parties to be served and reply before the next adjourned date

Our correspondent reports that Daudu, claimed that it was a misnomer for the appellant, who operates a law firm as a legal practitioner and does not deal in primary goods, to be assessed on Withholding Tax (WHT).

“It is unheard of for a legal practitioner to pay Withholding Tax, the respondent acted in error when it assessed the appellant on individual Income Tax from 2010 to 2017 in the sum of N977, 561, 982.08,” he said.

Responding, FIRS noted that its assessments were not in error and that it was discovered that the appellant did not deduct and remit WHT on some of the expenses and payment made under the period in review.

FIRS, therefore, prayed the Tribunal to declare that the notices of assessments issued on the appellant for 2010- 2017 assessment was right.

It also urged the tribunal for an order mandating the appellant to pay the total sum of N1.2 billion being the appellant’s liability for WHT, Personal income tax and VAT for 2010 – 2017 years of assessment.

FIRS stated that it rightly assessed the appellant; acting in accordance with the law and by collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on non-declaration of income as well as tax evasion.