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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS) has commenced court proceedings against multiple tax defaulters across the state.
This move is part of an intensive drive to recover outstanding tax liabilities, which presently stand at over ₦11 billion.
The tax recovery drive is led by the Service’s Legal Services and Enforcement Department. The major culprits in the legal battle include high-net-worth individuals and corporate entities.
These individuals and entities are said to have ignored several tax notices sent to them by the tax authority and failed to settle their statutory tax obligations due to the state.
The cases span multiple tax categories, including Personal Income Tax (PIT), Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Withholding Tax (WHT), Direct Assessment, Business Premises Levy, Development Levy, Rental Income Tax and other statutory payments.
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The Sun newspaper understands that the strategic move is aimed at strengthening voluntary compliance, protecting the integrity of the state’s tax system and ensuring that revenues due to the state are recovered by the CRIRS.
Justifying this move, the Chairman of the Service, Prince Edwin Okon, said the CRIRS decided on the court action because of the defaulters’ failure to respond to assessments and in line with the 2025 Tax Reforms Act.
“Since these persons (individuals/corporates) have decided not to respond to all tax assessments served on them, the Service will apply the relevant sections of the tax laws, including the 2025 Tax Reform Act, to recover all revenue that is due to the state.
“All High Net Worth Individuals and other taxpayers are expected to regularise their tax status and fulfill their statutory obligations promptly to avoid similar sanctions,” he said.
Prince Okon also reiterated the Service’s commitment to promoting a fair and transparent tax system that supports sustainable development across the state.
