The Acting Executive Chairman of Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS), Mr. Justice Okoye has met with executive members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Imo State Chapter led by Pharm. Chigozie Agbanusi on Wednesday 11th September 2024 at the IIRS Head Office.
The meeting was to foster collaboration between the association and IIRS, identify challenges affecting compliance and discuss strategies to enhance the States’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Mr. Okoye welcomed the members of the association and thanked them for coming. He said that some of the ACPN members had not been compliant with payment of taxes and levies despite the agreement entered into in the past. He inquired what the challenges were in order to resolve them.
In his response, the ACPN Chairman appreciated the IIRS Chairman and pointed out that there were some taxes that were not applicable to pharmacies due to the chemicals used e.g fumigation, pest control .
He also cited instances of taxes paid to the national body which should not be paid again and added that some cases were filed in court in this regard.
The IIRS boss reiterated that no association should collect taxes or levies on behalf of the Service and urged the ACPN Chairman to communicate and sensitise his members on the need to make payment as individuals and not collectively by the association.
A comprehensive list of the registered members of the association was requested for by the IIRS Chairman while he emphasized that required documents should be submitted during annual filing of their staff PAYE to determine tax compliance. Members of the association were also encouraged to remit Direct assessment monthly, file their returns annually and obtain their Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC).
After much deliberation, It was agreed that subsequent meetings would be held to solidify collaboration and enhance effective compliance for the growth of IGR in Imo State.