The Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) said it has sealed branches of United Bank for Africa, UBA in the state metropolis over alleged refusal of the bank to pay N14.3 million tax.
Hajiya Aysha Ahmad, the KADIRS Board Secretary/Legal Adviser told journalists that the enforcement was to ensure tax compliance in the whole state regarding withholding taxes and money agents.
She said the branches of the UBA were sealed after the bank failed to respond to demand notices for the tax obligation.
“We sent so many demand notices to them. We have asked them to pay the money but they refused, we are left with no other option but to enforce,” she said.
Ahmad added that the service wants voluntary compliance of tax payment while lamenting that the defaulter had been recalcitrant.
She, however, said when the defaulters pay, the service would unseal the premises.
Speaking further, the board secretary said the enforcement was part of a process to achieve the N120 billion revenue target set by the Kaduna state government.
“To achieve a target, there is always a starting point. Sealing UBA branches in the state for tax default is our start. We are also going after all other defaulters to get what is due to the state government.
“We served them with demand notices. We have been communicating with their consultant and Headquarters. In fact, they even took us to court and the outcome was like a win-win situation at the tax appeal tribunal.
“The court gave us directives to review our assessment which we did and they did not still comply. It is on the reviewed assessment we are enforcing this morning,” she said.
Ahmad called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a civic responsibility.
