In line with its mission to raise the competence of tax professionals in Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has certified 111 tax professionals to boost the profession for national development.
During the opening ceremony of its three-day virtual Legal Practitioners Conversion Training Programme, the 16th President/Chairman of the Council of the Institute, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, in a remark, said the initiative was designed to bridge the knowledge gap for legal professionals seeking to specialise in taxation, equipping them with the requisite skills and expertise to navigate the evolving tax landscape.
Agbeluyi affirmed that the conversion training programme underscores the commitment of the CITN Governing Council to maintaining professional excellence and ensuring that only qualified and certified individuals operate within the tax system in Nigeria through up-to-date tax education.
“As legal practitioners, you already possess a strong foundation in Nigerian law. However, taxation extends beyond legal interpretation; it requires a firm grasp of financial principles, tax computations, and policy applications.
“This programme has been carefully designed to complement your legal expertise by providing a practical understanding of tax administration, compliance, and enforcement,” he added.
In a paper presentation, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Prime University, Abuja, Chukwuemeka Eze, Esq., who spoke on Tax Dispute Resolution, emphasized the need to be mentally prepared to deliver top-notch tax services, as tax issues are critical for national growth and development.
Eze advised counsels to familiarize themselves with tax laws and ensure strict adherence to deadlines. He noted that clients might lose substantial income simply because their counsel failed to comply with the required timeline for fulfilling a tax obligation.
“Once an assessment or demand notice becomes FINAL and CONCLUSIVE, the onus to pay a tax liability ensues, even though the liability might be excessive or arbitrary. The onus, however, lies on the taxpayer to prove that a tax assessment is arbitrary or excessive.
“You must develop a quantitative aptitude that aligns with the law. Knowledge of the law alone will not suffice. Familiarise yourself with WREN, meaning: Wholly, Reasonably, Essentially, and Necessarily. For an expense to be tax-deductible, it must pass the WREN test.
“Find out the meaning of the following: cost of sales, tax audit, tax investigation, year of assessment, preceding year, capital allowance, EBITDA, cash book, trial balance, journal, audited account, depreciation, Withholding Tax, PAYE, taxable income, taxable person, computation of tax payable, VAT-exempt, VATable, zero-rated, warrant of distrain, tax enforcement, desk audit, field audit, TARC, etc.,” he added.
On her part, the Deputy Director of the CITN Tax Academy, Mrs. Yetunde Suleiman, revealed that through the Academy arm of the Institute, over 1,500 professionals have transitioned into seasoned tax professionals as members of the Institute.
“It’s the Institute’s resolve to equip you with updated and relevant knowledge in tax practice and administration in Nigeria. So you must deliver in the most ethical and professional manner,” she charged.