Governor Obiano of Anambra State
By Sunny A. David
Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has embarked on what it described as aggressive tax drive following the introduction of Integrated Billing System.
The harmonised billing system which entails the capturing of business premises, households and other organisations, would ensure that taxes are remitted directly into governnent coffers through bank transactions to guard against unscrupulous activities of fake tax agents in the state.
Addressing newsmen on the essence of the harmonised payment system, the Head Autonomous Transition Department of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mrs. Ann Nwagwu explained that governnent requires revenue to run the State effectively, which she said is the remote reason the agency came up with a team comprising representatives from relevant Ministries and Agencies to administer the new billing system.
The Head ATD stated that the entire State has been mapped out for the exercise but Awka would be used as the pilot scheme to ascertain the reactions of people on the new harmonised billing system.
Mrs. Nwagwu also disclosed that the harmonised payment system is a collaboration between the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Anambra State Waste Management Agency, Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency, the Anambra State Fire Service and a host of others.
She stressed that they have agreed that the way forward should be the new harmanised tax payment system to enable governnent have a unified and uniform internally generated revenue.
Mrs. Nwagwu equally stated that new integrated billing system would help the State produce a comprehensive database of taxable business premises, households and organisations situated in Anambra State.
Meanwhile Anambra-Central coordinator of Community Revenue Officers, Mr. Uzor Sylvester said the community revenue officers will register every business in the zone and issue the new harmanised bills to the owners, noting that those in the rural areas are also captured in the new harmonised billing system.
