The Chairman of the Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr. John Odior, has stated that many Nigerians prioritize giving financial gifts to to ‘Daddy G.O.s’ over fulfilling their civic duty of paying taxes, despite regulatory compliance issues.
Odior who spoke on a radio programme in Benin City at the weekend, observed that many Nigerians prefer giving financial gifts to general overseers and paying tithes over meeting their tax obligations.
While clarifying that he is not opposed to individuals supporting religious bodies or leaders, Odior stressed that tax obligations must come first so that governments at all levels can fund public infrastructure and fulfill statutory duties.
“People prefer to give to ‘Daddy G.O.s’ and others rather than pay taxes. I am not against giving to Daddy G.O.s; what I am saying is that people should see tax as a priority,” he stated.
According to EIRS boss who emphasized that citizens who fail to pay taxes lack the moral ground to demand accountability from the government, added that tax compliance is tied directly to good governance and the delivery of public services.
He added that infrastructure, salaries and social services all depend on revenue from taxes.
“If you are not paying taxes, you don’t have the moral ground to ask government questions,” he said.
“Any money that moves from one place to another, we must first check if it carries tax elements. If the tax element is not removed, anywhere we see it, we must first remove it,” he said.
Explaining the provisions of the tax law, the EIRS chairman noted that churches, NGOs engaged in humanitarian work, and individuals earning below the national minimum wage are exempt from corporate income tax.
He, however added that religious leaders must pay personal income tax on salaries.
“The salaries pastors collect, they are supposed to pay taxes on them,” Odior said.
On offerings and tithes, he explained: “If you say that you are exempt from paying tax on offerings and tithes, it is because the law views the offerings and tithes paid in church as having already suffered taxation at the individual level.”
He noted that churches are still required to file annual tax returns with government.
Odior who said the Edo IRS has improved tax payment and clearance processes through digital innovations to make compliance easier, urged residents to pay their taxes, adding: “Edo is shining…Your tax is working. Pay your taxes.”
Source: TheNewspad
