The Enugu State Government has just sealed Enugu ShopRite and SPAR for reported non-remittances purchase tax in their malls to the government after being given several warning notices.
The State Internal Revenue Service—ESiRS enforcement team carried out the closure of the malls on Tuesday, March 5 morning.
Other malls and businesses sealed included: Roban, Mama Onyinye restaurant among others.
The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service(ESIRS) HOD for eateries, bars, hotels, and shopping malls, Ms. Egwuonwu Perpetual had said that the agency visited the sealed malls and businesses on several occasions to solicit for the purchase tax but they had failed to remit such.
She also added they had also pleaded with the worried individuals to be submitting their taxes when due, but “they had been defiant and till now they have not done anything regarding these instructions.”
“It is noteworthy to mention that after we met with the Roban store they displayed our sticker and complied with remitting their purchase tax to the IRS. On the other hand, ShopRite has been frustrating all our efforts to get them to do the needful.
“It was always one thing or another eventually though, they promised us that before the end of February, they would do something but we are now in March and the ESIRS have not heard from them.” she said.
Egwuonwu stressed that the malls would keep closed until the issues at hand were resolved.
“The objective here is not to disorganize anybody’s business but since begging them did not work, this is the only way to force them to do what they are supposed to do.”
