Mr. Dashe Arlat, Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service.
By M. Peter – Jos
The Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, PSIRS has extended dateline for the submission of annual tax returns by tax payers in the formal and informal sectors from 31st January and 31st March respectively till 30th June 2020.
The extension is to help ease the strain on the businesses of tax payers during the pandemic.
The service has assured tax payers in the state that the Service would be humane in its drive to generate revenue, considering the harsh economic climate created by the COVID-19 disease.
Chairman of the Service, Mr. Dashe Arlat who spoke with journalists in Jos also disclosed his organization is making progress as the sum of over N7bn was realized as revenue accrued to the State between January and March, 2020.
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He called on citizens to brace up for the challenging times ahead because despite the pandemic, revenue needs to be raised to carry out government’s activities.
According to him, “The Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, PSIRS throws its weight behind the positive measures taken by Governor Simon Lalong to combat the spread of Corona Virus by reviewing the lockdown days, restriction of movements within and into Plateau State and the deployment of grade level 10-14 to various points across the State.”
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“The Internal Revenue Service on its part has procured Face masks and Hand sanitizers for distribution to our esteemed tax payers and the vulnerable citizens as its support towards efforts of Government at alleviating the plight of Plateau citizens. The Service has similarly extended the deadline dates for the submission of annual tax returns by our tax payers in the formal and informal sectors from 31st January and 31st March respectively till 30th June 2020. This is to help ease the strain on the businesses of our esteemed tax payers during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
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“From January to March 2020 there has been steady improvement in Plateau state IGR as follows:
JANUARY — N 1,068,600,297.69
FEBRUARY — N 963,493,056.63
MARCH — N 5,171,236,278.29
TOTAL — N 7,203,329,641.61
“The COVID-19 Pandemic is affecting the world and Nigeria in various ways and has resulted in unforeseen and devastating health and economic consequences. Crude oil prices, the main driver of Nigeria’s economy has been on a decline since 6th March 2020 falling below 20USD per barrel by the end of March 2020 – the lowest in over two decades.”
“With the unprecedented drop of crude oil prices that resulted in the drop in statutory revenue allocation to the State, taxation and charging fees for services have become a readymade alternative source of revenue. This however has become a challenge with the attendant lock downs across the states and country stifling economic activities in an effort to keep citizens safe from the dreaded COVID-19.
“There is an urgent need for Government and citizens to brace up for the impending harsh economic climate that lies ahead. Strategies must be evolved to ensure that revenues are harnessed and collected from the little activities going on even amidst the Pandemic to keep the wheels of government turning to meet the needs of the people”, the State’s chief tax officer said.
