MTN to FIRS: We will never deliberately avoid Taxes

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has assured Nigeria’s leading Telecom MTN Nigeria Plc and others of a friendly, Customer-Centric Tax administration.

The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said this when he received the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Karl Toriola on Tuesday.

Toriola had led the Management Team of the Company on a visit to the Revenue House.

Adedeji said that the resolve to create an Environment of growth by removing every obstacle in the way of Corporate Entities was in line with the Directive of President Bola Tinubu.

He said that the ongoing Restructuring at the Agency leading to the creation of a One-Stop Shop for Taxpayers according to their Turnover Thresholds was part of measures aimed at easing payment of Taxes.

“The way we are structured now is that we have Large Taxpayers’ Group, Medium and Small.

“Those in the Large Tax Group are Companies with Turnover of N5bn and above and I know that is where MTN belongs.

“In the Large Tax Category, you will now be required to pay all your Taxes, including Company Income Tax, VAT and others in that One-Stop Shop where you can also have issues relating to Audit sorted.

“Essentially, the issue of multiple Letters from various Units within FIRS over almost the same matter has been taken off the System with the Restructuring that we have done.

“We are now focused on providing the needed Service to our Customers,” Adedeji said.

The FIRS Chairman said that the Relationship between FIRS and the Taxpayers was symbiotic.

”Your existence actually determines our own existence. If you discover anything in our Policies or Operations that you are not conversant with, feel free to reach out to us for clarification. This is how we can co-exist,” he said.

Earlier, Toriola pledged the support of MTN towards the Initiatives of the Federal Government and FIRS in increasing Tax Revenue.

He also pledged the support of MTN towards the Initiatives of the Federal Government and also for the FIRS towards making sure that Nigeria’s Tax Revenue Base increased.

“We have been recognised over the years by a few Awards given to us by FIRS on our compliance and diligence in paying our Taxes.

“Unlike many other Organisations, we have physical presence in every single Local Government in Nigeria, and we impact the Lives of almost everyone living in Nigeria.

“Over the years, through various Administrations, we have taken pride in always being a Partner and ally to the Federal Government and we do so by ensuring that we pay our Taxes on time. We will never deliberately avoid Taxes.

“We will show every flexibility to support the various Initiatives.

”As MTN Nigeria, we understand the kind of challenges the Nation is facing, and we are here to be Partners in putting the Economy in on the right track,” he said.