The Securities and Exchange Commission has urged Capital Market Operators and Public Limited Company to comply with the new rule of Taxpayers on Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme or face penalty.
Naif Abdulsalam, the Head, Corporate Communication of SEC, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Abdulsalam said the call was from a new executive order by the Federal Government, contained in a circular by the SEC management to all operators and public limited companies.
He said: “The SEC is encouraging all taxpayers in the Capital Market to comply with the new Executive Order No. 004 on VAIDS before the expiration of the nine-month grace period.
“The Executive Order on VAID was signed by the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on June 29, 2017.
“It stated that taxpayers who are under all relevant Federal and State Tax laws are advised to regularise their tax status by honestly declaring their assets and incomes from sources within and outside Nigeria.
“The SEC also wishes to state that from March 31, 2018, all CMO’s and PLC’s shall be required to show evidence of compliance with VAIDS or a clean tax status as part of their mandatory submissions to the Commission.
“Failure to comply with this public notice shall result in appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law.’’
Abdulsalam, however, stated that the decree of limitations for a tax investigation for honest returns was limited to six years.
He said there was no limit where a fraudulent return had been submitted for assessment to the commission.
He reiterated that all CMO’s and PLC’s should comply with the order by taking advantage of the nine months grace period to rectify their tax status.
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