Kogi State Government has mandated business operators in the state to comply with provisions of the law concerning registering of business with Ministry of Commerce and Industry to avoid sanctions.
The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Gabriel Olofu who disclosed this at a joint press conference organized by the ministry and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) in Lokoja on Tuesday, said Point of Sale terminal (PoS) operators, petty traders, miners, contractors handling jobs for the state government and others have till October 14 this year to get registered or face stiff sanctions.
Olofu urged business operators in the state to pay their taxes directly into KGIRS specified account and obtain receipt or teller after which they would proceed to the ministry to obtain their Business Premises certificate.
The Commissioner explained that direct payment to the bank is in accordance with the cashless policy of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration, noting that the state tax force on revenue drive would tour all business establishments in the state to enforce the law at the expiration of the one month given by the ministry.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Commerce and KGIRS have area tax officers in various local government areas and other strategic positions to assist tax payers meet up their payments, stating that the provisions of the law covers wide range enterprises.
According to him “Kogi State Government of Nigeria Registration of Business Premises Law, 2007; Section 2, Sub Section 4 of registration of business premises law and other matters connected therewith 2007, interprets business premises to mean: the premises on which the company, firm or individual carried or carries on any business, whether fenced or not.
“Section 2, sub section 2 interprets business to include any trade, industry or profession and any occupation carried on for profit in Kogi State. Section 3, sub section 1 of the aforementioned law further provides that premises of business of every company, firm or individual carrying on any business in the State shall be registered in the manner prescribed in this law”
He stated that at the expiration of one month, the state tax force on revenue drive would tour round all business establishments in the state to enforce the law, assuring that the ministry would work in synergy with KGIRS to avoid double taxation on business operators.
The Acting Chairman KGIRS, Mallam Yusufu Abubakar who was represented by Director, roads tax and other revenue Mr Olubumi Ajayi warned revenue officers either from the Ministry of Commerce or Revenue Service against collecting cash from business operators.
He noted that the State government has passed a cashless law and every money must be paid into the designated account of the state government.
“Revenue Officers are not middlemen and cash should not be given to them for whatever reasons. Business operators should pay in the bank and collect teller for onward collection of receipt for the payment” he said.
