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EU Partners FIRS to Deepen CSOs Tax Knowledge, Compliance
Determined to ensure accountability and transparency as part of its good governance drive in Nigeria, the European Union has engaged with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to deepen the knowledge of Civil Society Organisations on tax responsibilities and compliance.
The project captured under the European Union’s “Agents For Citizen-Driven Transformation,” ACT, provides a veritable platform for CSOs operating in the country to engage the FIRS on the tax regulations that govern their operations and how to ensure seamless compliance in line with approved guidelines.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has clarified that civil society organisations, CSOs, including non-governmental organisations and cooperative societies have responsibilities under the tax laws to fulfill their tax obligations irrespective of the nature of their operations.
FIRS and the Joint Tax Board, JTB, in a webinar jointly organised by the FIRS and the European Union-funded, British Council-managed Agents for Citizen Driven Transformation, EU-ACT, programme emphasised that CSOs have the responsibility to file tax returns and statement of affairs; adding that the tax authorities would demand payment of taxes from CSOs only when the CSOs were engaged in businesses and make profits from the business ventures.
Executive chairman of FIRS, Muhammad Nami, represented by the coordinating director, compliance support group of FIRS, Dick Irri, in declaring the webinar open, said that FIRS would continue to partner with stakeholders in its drive to educate taxpayers on their responsibilities.
Director of the tax policy and advisory department of FIRS, Temitayo Orebajo, in his presentation on tax obligation of CSOs refuted claims by some individuals that CSOs have no tax obligation.
“There is a penalty for CSOs for not filing and there is a penalty for late filing. Whether you (CSOs) have something to do or not, you have the responsibility to file.
“After one year you are registered, in order not to run foul of the law, you need to go and file at least your statement of affairs. It may be just one page document”, he said.
Orebajo said that CSOs include organisations, institutions and companies engaged in ecclesiastical, charitable, benevolent, literary, scientific, social, cultural, sporting or educational activities of a public character, adding: “all CSOs are expected to register for tax purpose and obtain Taxpayer Identification Number, TIN.
“The following documents are required for tax registration: A copy of the registration certificate issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, or any other instrument of registration; Certified True Copy, CTC, of memorandum and articles of association, constitution or rules and regulations governing the CSO; list and profiles of the Trustees/Board members nominated and other relevant documents.”
Deputy director of tax policy and advisory department, Olatunji Olabode, said that CSOs should file returns and pay taxes (where applicable) at MTOs closest to them or use the TaxPro Max Solution.
He added that with the introduction of TaxPro Max solution, CSOs can file returns and pay taxes from the comfort of their homes and offices.
Corroborating in his presentation, Orebajo noted: “NGOs are required to register for tax at designated FIRS Medium Tax Offices (MTOs) in their respective geopolitical zones. For Lagos: MTO Lagos Island; For North-Central: FCT MTO Abuja; for North-East and North-West: MTO Kano; South-East: MTO Enugu; for South-South: MTO Port Harcourt and for South-West: MTO Ibadan.”
“Section 55(1) of CITA mandates every company in Nigeria including CSOs to file annual tax returns. A tax return comprises: an audited account, tax and capital allowances computations and a true and correct statement in writing containing the amounts of its surplus from each and every source computed; a completed self-assessment form; particulars as may be required in the form with respect to profits, allowances, reliefs, deductions required; a declaration to be signed by a trustee, director, secretary or any authorised person of the organisation that the information contained in the return is true and correct; the period for filing returns shall be as stipulated in the relevant tax laws”, he said.
A representative of the JTB and its Head, Legal, Nneka Esomeju added that CSOs who are registered as individuals or Business Names or any other law at sub-national level should also comply fulfil their tax obligations under the Personal Income Tax Act and relevant with the State Board of Internal Revenue.
“If any CSO is not registered or overseen by the FIRS, they should register and file their returns and pay taxes (where applicable) to the State Board of Internal Revenue.
Not being registered with FIRS or CAC does not mean that you are exempted from taxes. She also clarified that any individual who earns income beyond the threshold of the minimum wage should pay taxes irrespective of the status of the individual.
Arewa Voice gathered that the programme also gave an opportunity for the CSOs to engage the Nigerian tax agency on parts of tax laws that concern them and how they could comply effectively and seamlessly.
The European Union Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (EU-ACT) Programme works with civil society organisations, CSOs, to enable them to be credible and effective drivers of change for sustainable development in Nigeria.
Its work focuses on strengthening the system of CSOs, networks and coalitions to improve their internal, external, and programmatic capabilities.
EU-ACT works with CSOs in 10 states selected across the six geo-political zones in the country: Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Enugu, the federal capital territory (FCT), Kano, Lagos, Plateau, Rivers and Sokoto.
The Programme also focuses on providing a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue for an improved, effective, and inclusive regulatory environment for the operation of CSOs in Nigeria.
CommunicationsWeek Media Limited, a certified global ICT company with over two million online subscribers, is delighted and proud to announce Prof. Yakub Aliyu, as the keynote speaker at Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished Lecture series 2024.
Aliyu, will be speaking on the theme: Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Good, The Complex and The Anticipated”, this leans heavily on the fact that AI changing our lives– we just need to know where to look today.
This year’s rebranded Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series is slated for Saturday, May 25, 2024 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
The event is the most prestigious annual event that brings together captains of industry in both technology and financial worlds.
According to Ken Nwogbo, CEO, Communication Week Media Ltd, organisers of the ABoICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series, “the choice of Prof. Yakub Aliyu is deliberate because of his exceptional career in Artificial Intelligence (AI)”.
He added that, AI is considered to have the potential to instigate a fourth industrial revolution,1 and is dramatically changing people’s patterns of interaction and economic activities.
“The traditional factors of production and physical capital and labour may no longer promote substantial economic growth. It is generally believed that AI will be one of the most important factors determining future economic growth,” he said.
A professor of microelectronics and a scholar-practitioner in artificial intelligence and deep machine learning for industrial applications and high-speed application processors. His research interests include Multimodal AI models for high-efficiency industrial robot applications and Human AI interactions.
He also has adjunct academic professorships at five African, USA, and UK universities. Holds a BS in Applied Physics Electronics from Karlsruhe and A Bello Universities in Germany and Nigeria, an MBA in International Business Management from the University of London, an MSEE (Master of Engineering, Electronics), and a Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering from the University of Wales.
Prof. Aliyu is the global quality director for Bourns Inc., Riverside, California, USA, an electronics system, and components manufacturer. I oversee quality functions in 21 factories worldwide.
He has also held quality and operational management leadership positions at National Semiconductors, Bell Labs-Lucent Technology, Texas Instrument, Global Foundries, and Roper Technologies USA.
Authored and coauthored over 30 Advanced Technology United States-issued patents in High-Speed Application Processors and Contributed to over 40 international impact Journals, chapters, and conferences; FASI, SMIEEE USA, MIEE UK, M. Inst pf Physics Chartered Phys and C Eng UK.
Past lecturers included Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC); Dr. Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk; and Professor Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom.
Others are: Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited; Dr. Adewale Obadare, chief visionary officer, Digital Encode and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Prof. Isa Pantanmi, minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Dr. Seyi Akindeind, co-founder, Digital Encode; Dr Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Director, Africa Data Centres.
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Participants at the event
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
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