Businessmen threaten to shut down Calabar over multiple taxation

https://guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/REVENUE-2.jpg

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PMT, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, in a protest letter to the Commissioner of Transport decried harassment by various persons claiming to be revenue collectors, even when they have met all their tax obligations.

As businessmen in Calabar threatened to shut down the city over multiple taxation, the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has waded in to remedy the situation.

Multiple taxation has been a general outcry by traders and businessmen, even as the state government said people earning below N50, 000 as yearly income, should be exempted from tax payment. But the reverse is the case, as all manner of tax and levy collectors have taken over Calabar, thereby making the state unattractive for investors and business people.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PMT, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, in a protest letter to the Commissioner of Transport decried harassment by various persons claiming to be revenue collectors, even when they have met all their tax obligations.

Similarly, traders at the popular Henshaw town beach market (Urua Esuk Nsidung) in Calabar have vowed to stop all business transactions over what they described as unreasonable levy, purportedly from the State Internal Revenue Service.

The market, known for large quantity of assorted fishes and bags of crayfish brought from the Bakassi peninsular and other fishing settlements along the shores of Atlantic Ocean, has buyers from across the country on Mondays and Fridays.

Secretary of the group, Mr. Effiong Bassey Udoh, said despite the fact that they are already paying huge amount to government with different subheads, another letter was again sent from the Internal Revenue demanding outrageous amount as economic development levy.

Also speaking, Chairman of Boat Owners Association, Mr. Nkereuwem Edet Bassey, expressed disgust over the situation. In a reaction, the Executive Chairman of the IRS, Dr. Ukam Edodi, said the agency’s attention has been drawn to the incessant harassment by some government agencies and their associated service providers/agents with reference to revenue collection.