By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About N27.08 billion was generated by the Federal Government under the waiver of tax penalty and interest programme.
Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Tunde Fowler, speaking with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance in Abuja, disclosed that a total of 2,735 taxpayers applied under the tax waiver scheme.
Mr Fowler, who received the lawmakers on an oversight visit to the agency, disclosed that the 45-day window given by the FIRS in 2016 made this possible.
Last year, the agency gave October 5 to November 24, for taxpayers owing tax liabilities, inclusive of interest and penalty for three years (2013 to 2015), to come forward and pay a minimum of 25 percent of their actual tax liabilities and spread the balance, while the penalty and interest were waived.
The waiver programme came after due consultation with relevant stakeholders and was part of government’s efforts to reduce the burden of tax liabilities on taxpayers, promote voluntary compliance and shield taxpayers from the burden of carrying forward old liabilities accruing from penalty and interest.
