The Chairman of the Imo State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Justice Okoye (FCA), and the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Investment, Barrister Rex Anunobi, recently held strategic meetings with market leaders and traders across key markets in the state. The markets visited include Naze Timber and Allied Traders Naze, Relief Market, World Bank Market, Building Materials Market Orlu, Timber Market Orlu, Electrical and Electronics Market Orlu, and Orlu International Market.
The objectives of these engagements were to, assess market operations and compliance with tax policies, Introduce authorized agents responsible for e-tickets, market tolls and stallage fees, educate traders on the benefits of improved tax compliance and its role in boosting the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
Mr. Justice Okoye expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for collaborating on this critical initiative. He highlighted the significance of the newly deployed Revenue Management Solution (RMS) platform, which streamlines e-ticketing and revenue collection. He reiterated that IIRS is the sole legal authority responsible for collecting all taxes, levies, and revenue on behalf of the state, cautioning against the activities of unauthorized agents.
The Honorable Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Investment, Barr. Rex C. Anunobi, urged market executives to actively support the sensitization drive and ensure traders are well-informed about the RMS. He emphasized the need for accurate and up-to-date records of traders in each market to facilitate a seamless transition. Additionally, he outlined the current stallage fees and daily toll rates while stressing the penalties for non-compliance.
Market leaders expressed their gratitude to the IIRS Chairman and the Commissioner for their proactive approach and pledged their full cooperation in revenue generation. They also requested additional time to further educate traders about the transition from paper ticketing to the new electronic system.