EconomyNewsTaxationAnalysis: Lagos, Rivers Responsible For 70% of VAT Collected By FIRS in the Last Five Years

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LAGOS — Analysis has revealed that in the last five years, Lagos and Rivers states have contributed about N3.9tn of the N5.6tn of Value Added Tax (VAT) realized by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), a Federal Government agency responsible for the collection of VAT on behalf of states and the Federal Capital Territory.

From the data available on the website of the FIRS, it was gathered that the agency generated N5.6tr VAT in the last five years. It stated that, between 2016 and 2020, Nigeria earned a total VAT revenue of N5,629,739,500,000.

In 2020, Nigeria earned a total of N1,531,170,900,00, comprising Import VAT collected by the Nigeria Customs Service, N347,724,800,000, and Non-import VAT of N1,183,446,100,000.

In 2019, the total VAT collected was N1,189,981,100,000, comprising N244,517,200,000 Import VAT and N945,463,900,000 Non-import VAT.

The total VAT in 2018 was given as N1,108,040,000,000, comprising N249,021,800,000 Import VAT and N859,018,200,000 Non-import VAT.

For 2017, total VAT income was N972,348,400,000, comprising N202,000,500,000 Import VAT and N770,347,900,000 Non-import VAT.

In 2016, however, N828,199,100,000 total VAT was realised, out of which N177,855,200,000 was Import VAT and the remaining N650,343,900,000 was Non-import VAT.

Of the total N5,629,739,500,000 VAT collected by FIRS between 2016 and 2020, Lagos and Rivers, said to contribute over 70 per cent of the VAT collectibles in the country, are estimated to have been responsible for  N3,940,817,650,000.

From the percentage generated by the two states, there are obvious tensions that the revenue accruing to the VAT common purse might significantly drop.

The administration of tax in Nigeria is modeled after the fiscal system of the country. This means that the Federal, State and Local governments have the responsibility of collecting tax.

This is in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The FIRS is federal tax body, at the state level, there is the Board of Internal Revenue service of various states (SBIR) while the Local government also collects taxes through the committee set up within its power.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) collects taxes that are paid by companies and Federal Capital Territory. It is their responsibility to ensure that all taxes collected are duly remitted to the Federal Government.

However, it is essential to note that, before the legal war between Rivers State and the FIRS, and Lagos joined recently, the money collected as VAT was shared among the three tiers of government. The Federal Government takes 15 percent; States get 50 percent while Local Governments have 35 percent. In all, the FIRS deducts four percent as its cost of collection.

TAXES COLLECTED BY FIRS

Examples of such tax collected by FIRS are: Companies income tax, withholding taxes on companies, petroleum profit tax, value added tax, stamp duties on corporate entities in the FCT, among others.

TAXES COLLECTED BY STATES

The State Board of Internal Revenue (SBIR) performs the responsibility of administering Personal Income Tax. The SBIRs are responsible to the State government in terms of accounting and remitting these collected taxes to the coffers of the State government. Examples of such tax collected by SBIRs are: withholding taxes on individual, rent, consultancy/professional fees, and technical services, stamp duties on individual and corporate entities in the state.

TAXES COLLECTED BY LGs

The Local government also collects taxes through the committee set up within their powers. They collect taxes, rates and fines posted under its jurisdiction and are responsible to the Local government chairman for all taxes collected.

Examples of such tax collected by the local government are: Shops and Kiosks rates, Tenement rates, marriage, and birth and death registration fees. Naming of street registration fees, excluding any street in the State Capital, Motor Park levies among others.

Meanwhile, apart from the above-mentioned bodies of tax collectors, there is the Joint Tax Board at the center. The board primarily contributes to the advancement of the tax administration in Nigeria, especially in the area of harmonization of Personal Income Tax administration throughout Nigeria. The board came into existence by virtue of the provisions of section 86 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act cap. P8 LFN 2004.

 

Bada Yusuf Amoo (Correspondent)

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