The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria said more Nigerians would pay their taxes, if only government would live up to its responsibility of providing adequate infrastructure and improved services.
The CITN Chairman, Abuja chapter, Ogbeida Benjamin, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Benjamin, Nigerians are good people and if they see the monies being used and utilised appropriately, they will pay their taxes.
“We have states that are doing well and people are voluntarily paying taxes in those states because they can see their taxes working for them.
“The government should help the masses by providing good health care services, education, and roads, then people will voluntarily pay their taxes.”
Reacting to the Federal Government’s plans to boost non-oil revenue in 2019 by introducing additional taxes, Benjamin said there was nothing wrong as long as government shoulders its responsibilities.
He reminded Nigerians that tax compliance was a double edge sword in the sense that government could not be held accountable if they failed to pay tax.
Benjamin advised the government to increase sensitisation of the public on taxation, as many people still do not understand how tax works and why they should pay their tax.
Benjamin also advised the government to improve its database on taxpayers, especially data on people that were into businesses, to ensure that it collects the right amount as tax.
He said: “In the 2019 budget, the government seems to be dwelling more on domestic revenue and less dependence on foreign borrowing.
“However, there is the need to educate people on the need to pay their tax because most of the revenue needed to execute the 2019 budget is expected to come from tax.
“So we in CITN are appealing to citizens to try and pay their actual taxes. This will also be done by trying to get more people into the tax net.”
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