To achieve revenue target and block leakages, the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), has sought the support of State Judiciary on speedy hearing of revenue related cases, use of Revenue Court during tax enforcement exercise, and inclusion of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) from, sureties as part of requirements for court bail.
The Executive Chairman of OGIRS, Mr. Anthony Olaleye stated this during a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, at the Judiciary’s complex in Abeokuta.
Olaleye said support from the Judiciary in the area of using revenue mobile court during tax enforcement exercise, would help deepen the agency’s tax net, thereby increasing revenue that would be used in providing developmental projects.
The Chairman reiterated the agency’s determination to ensure that, residents pay appropriate taxes efficiently and transparently, adding that demand for a TCC signed by the Chairman from surety during the bail process, would be more authentic than tax receipts that were prone to forgery.
“We want to ensure that every resident of the State pays appropriate taxes, we don’t want anybody to be under tax and we want it done transparently.
“We will need the support of the Chief Judge and her team, to ensure that any surety for bail provides a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) or a Clearance letter from the State Internal Revenue Service signed by the Chairman, instead of tax receipts that can be forged, these are revenue leakages”, he said.
The Chief Judge, represented by the Deputy Chief Registrar I Legal, Justice Martins Akinyemi, pledged the readiness of the State Judiciary to support the efforts of OGIRS in its move towards increasing IGR, saying nothing could be achieved by the government without revenue.
She disclosed further that, efforts were on to establish revenue courts in Ijebu-Ode, Ifo, Mowe, Ota, and Agbara to hasten speedy hearing of revenue cases in the State.
