The Borno State Internal Revenue Service (BoIRS) has made changes to help people who pay taxes.
They want to make it easier for them and help businesses in the state. They also said they stopped money from being lost and made 2.8 billion Naira from taxes between January 1st and February 15th this year, 2024.
The person in charge of the service, Prof Bello Ibrahim, talked about this during a meeting with the press in Maiduguri.
He said Governor Babagana Zulum’s order helped set up a way for people to complain if they have problems with taxes. This way, they can listen to the complaints and fix things.
Prof Ibrahim said, “People can come to us if they think their taxes are too much. We will listen and try to help them. For example, if someone has 2,000 Naira in Borno State, they can pay it in three parts. Isn’t that helpful?”
He explained that small businesses like roadside tire repair shops only have to pay 6,000 Naira, and small stores only have to pay 9,500 Naira, which they can pay in nine parts. He said this kind of help isn’t common elsewhere.
He also said taxes are important for the state to have money for things like roads and schools.
Prof Ibrahim mentioned that governments all over the world rely on taxes to do important things for their people. He said they are trying to teach people the importance of paying taxes.
He also said they made a lot of money from taxes recently because they stopped money from being lost and made it easier for people to pay. They made 1.7 billion Naira in January and 1.1 billion Naira from February 1st to February 15th, 2024.
They also got 19.4 billion Naira from government offices and local governments last year, 2023.
“We also generated N19.4 billion from Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as the 27 local government areas in last year, 2023.
They made it easier to pay taxes by allowing payments through banks, using card machines (POS), smartphones, and having agents help with payments. They also said their staff are happier and they are using better technology to collect taxes.
