Katsina gives two weeks ultimatum to banks, others over N1bn tax row

The Katsina State Revenue Service (KRS) has given banks and other agencies in the state that are non-tax compliant a two week ultimatum to remit their taxes or face the wrath of law.

The Executive Director, Katsina Revenue Services (KRS), Alhaji Surajo Muhammadu and his team, on Friday went round the affected banks and agencies to warn them of the looming consequences of their actions.

To that effect, KRS placed a notice of non-compliance at strategic points within the affected banks and agencies for the general public to note.

Three of the affected banks and agencies visited in the Katsina State capital include Unity Bank, Stanbic Bank, Sterling Bank and KEDCO.

According to Sirajo, the accumulated debt is over one billion naira and the range varies from one agency to the other. Some of the banks owe over N500 million and some owe less.

“They have deducted government money and have not remitted to the government. We have been on this issue for quite some time now. We have met and sat with them but they have refused to come up with their payments,” Sirajo said

As a result, he warned members of the public to stop dealing with the affected banks and agencies for being non-tax compliant.

“So, based on the provisions of the law, we are telling them and telling the public that these organisations are non-tax compliant and so should avoid transacting with them.

“In your interest, it is better you don’t deal with them. We are giving them a period of two weeks within which to come forward and settle their outstanding liabilities, failure of which will result in recovery options without further recourse to these organisations.”

“We have quite a lot of options given by the law. We may choose to garnish or freeze their accounts, take over their accounts, or lock up the premises until we get our payment. We have quite a number of options.

In the same vein, Sirajo sent a note of warning to other tax defaulters that the state government is serious about the issue of revenue generation and will spare no agency that refuses to comply with the necessary and relevant provisions of the law.