By Giovanni Emephia
The State Government has declared as a criminal offense any unauthorized collection of any form of fees, charges, levies or revenue by any group of individuals or corporate entity on its behalf without the express endorsement of the Delta State Internal Revenue Service.
The Chairman of the state Internal Revenue Service, Sir Monday Onyeme, who made clarification known in a statement, said that the warning had become necessary due to a series of complaints from members of the public regarding demands for payment of certain charges, levies and other forms of revenue from individuals posing as agents of the state government.
The referred members of the public to Section 4[1 and 2] saying it gives the service “exclusive powers to control, administer, impose and collect different taxes and levies, and other forms of revenue” collectable by the state government.
It also said the section empowers the service powers over all taxes, levies, rates and fees collectable by all ministries, departments and agencies of the state government.
While warning that anyone caught flouting the law would be apprehended and prosecuted, the statement advised members of the public, especially taxable individuals and corporate entities to disregard any demand notice not emanating from the office of the Chairman of the Delta State Revenue Service.
It added that, in line with the directive of the state governor on the issue, all revenue consultants engaged by MDAs are to report to the revenue service headquarters in Warri for a review and revalidation of their different consultancies for the purpose of streamlining their activities and ensuring greater operational efficiency.
