The Osun State Government has threatened business owners in the state to pay their taxes or have their enterprises shut down.
In a statement made by the Information Officer of the Osun Internal Revenue Service, OIRS, Oluwaseun Ayeni, which was obtained on Saturday, the Agency’s Chairman, Adesola Adewumi, reads the riot act to defaulters, claiming that they have been given adequate time to comply.
Speaking at an awareness campaign in the state capital, Adewumi said that business owners who have not to pay their tax obligations have until Monday, August 12, to do so, or the agency will begin clamping down on such enterprises.
Mr Deji Atoyebi, the Agency’s Director of Legal and Enforcement, stated that the government would shut up defaulting business premises on Monday, noting that the exercise was scheduled for May of this year.
“The OIRS board had decided to begin tax enforcement against defaulters if they continued to fail to meet their tax obligations to the state government.”
We therefore advise all tax defaulting firms in the state to avoid any issues that may come during the shutdown.
What they’re saying
“The firms that have been served with harmonised demand notices should take the necessary action before the state embarks on enforcement/closure to bring the defaulters to justice.
“We admonish those who are yet to be served a harmonised demand notice to go to any OIRS tax station nearest to them”
Bottom Line
While the enforcement of tax laws is crucial, there could be significant consequences for businesses that fail to comply.
The shutdown of defaulting enterprises could lead to job losses, reduced economic activity, and other negative impacts on the local economy.
Therefore, it’s important that the government balances enforcement with measures to support businesses in meeting their obligations.