VAT judgement: ‘Maintain status quo, don’t panic’ — FIRS tells taxpayers

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has asked taxpayers not to panic over the recent court ruling by the federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt.

The court, on Monday, dismissed FIRS’ motion for stay of execution of the earlier judgment directing Rivers state to take charge of value-added tax (VAT) collection.

The agency stated that “until the court of appeal, or even the supreme court, determines the matter, taxpayers are required to continue to comply with their value-added tax (VAT) obligations within the status quo framework.”

Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, special assistant on media and communication to the chairman of FIRS, said this in a statement on Monday.

 “The FIRS having lodged, in the Court of Appeal, both an appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Rivers State in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/149/2020, Attorney General of Rivers State Vs Federal Inland Revenue Service, and an injunction pending appeal of the said judgement assures taxpayers that there was no cause for alarm,” the statement reads.

“The Federal High Court ruling should not breed any confusion as to the obligations of taxpayers. Taxpayers must continue to comply with the Value Added Tax Act pending the final determination of the appeal.

“Taxpayers must continue to honour their tax obligations under the VAT Act. Failure to do this would put them on a collision course with the law.

 “For the avoidance of doubt, records of appeal have been transmitted to the appellate court. The Service is confident that, given the extant laws, the arguments and case put forward, it will earn a favoured judgment at the appellate court.”

Meanwhile, Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, has directed the state’s Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) to fully implement and enforce the collection of value-added tax (VAT).

The Lagos house of assembly also passed the first and second reading of a bill seeking to empower the state government to collect value-added tax (VAT).