Tax Enforcement and Recovery team of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) sealing off GTBank branch in Uyo, on Monday 14th December 2020.
By Nsikan Essien
The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS, has sealed off two branches of Guarantee Trust Bank in Uyo over default in payment of taxes.
AKIRS has been on tax compliance enforcement drive since last week.
The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service on Monday 14th December sealed up branches of GTBank at banking layout, Udo Udoma avenue, and Abak road, Uyo.
RELATED STORY : Mobil, GTBank owe Akwa Ibom state N24.68 billion PAYE taxes
GTBank is owing Akwa Ibom State Government the sum of N184 million in outstanding tax liabilities, the State Revenue Service said on Monday.
An exparte order of Notice of Distrain obtained at the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Uyo Division signed by Hon Justice Imeh Umanah orders that access to the bank premises and its facilities be restricted.
It would be recalled that AKIRS pasted warning notice of tax default on the two branches of GTBank on February 4, 2020.
Advertisement.
The bank failed to comply with the warning 10 months after, the Executive Director, Tax Enforcement and Recovery of AKIRS, Mr Leo Umana said.
GTBank had sued AKIRS in Uyo, Port Harcourt and Benin city over tax-related disagreements. The cases were decided in favour of AKIRS.
The Notice of Distrain indicates that GTBank has not been remitting the actual tax deductible from its employees’ salaries and other relevant taxes due to the State, hence failed to comply with the provisions of relevant tax laws.
READ ALSO : NPF deploy more personnel in search for missing students in Kankara
Mr Leo Umana, said the Board had exhausted negotiation and reconciliation opportunities with the bank before proceeding to seal off its branches.
Umana said the bank refused to remit taxes accruing to the State despite being given a long grace period.
“The bank has 14 days to negotiate with AKIRS and vacate the order. If after 14 days, they do not comply, we have the mandate of the court to sell the property and recover the tax owed the State.”
Umana stressed that any organisation that is withholding relevant taxes due to the State will be made to face the law, appealing to organisations operating in the State to pay their taxes voluntarily.
