FCT Generates N43.8bn in January, Warns Tax Defaulters

Rather than commend the taxpayers, the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) threatened defaulters after announcing a collection of over N43.8 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).  The agency warned that it may take legal action against individuals and businesses that consistently fail to comply with tax laws. The Acting Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, revealed this during a public awareness campaign in Abuja.  He explained that while the service encourages voluntary tax compliance, it is also prepared to enforce penalties on those who refuse to meet their tax obligations. According to Ango, the agency collected a total of N262 billion in 2024, surpassing its N250 billion target.  With a strong start in 2025, the service remains committed to increasing revenue collection across various taxes, including personal income tax, capital gains tax, property tax, and entertainment tax. He noted that businesses that fail to file their tax returns for 2025 could face penalties starting from N500,000.  The agency has already issued warning letters to some defaulting companies and plans to notify more soon. READ ALSO: Why Nigerians should not pat tax  If payments are not made within two weeks, FCT-IRS will determine the next course of action, which may include prosecuting company executives. Ango stressed that tax payments are essential for public infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, and schools.  He urged residents and business owners to fulfill their tax duties, warning that the agency will take strict action

AMAC, FCT IRS on collision course over double taxation

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and relevant authorities to intervene in calling the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT IRS) to order with regards to the collection of revenue belonging to the council.  Speaking to newsmen Tuesday at AMAC headquarters, Maikalangu, who was represented by the Supervisory Councilor for Special Duties, Mr Emmanuel Inyang, said that AMAC has not signed any agreement with FCT IRS with regards to revenue collection. Maikalangu said that, even at a recent townhall meeting organized by FCT IRS for the six area councils in the FCT, with the aim of revenue harmonisation, the Permanent Secretary of the FCT, Dr Olusade Adesola, said he was the driver of revenue harmonisation, but left the meeting halfway and hence unable to answer questions, leading to the inability to reach any consensus. The AMAC chairman said FCT IRS was harassing AMAC and FCT residents with the aim of their paying the same taxes they had already paid to AMAC, thereby opening ways to double taxation. He said that the court had already ruled that AMAC should not pass over the role of revenue collection to a third party, hence the need for FCT IRS to explain from where it derived its powers to be collecting revenue on behalf of AMAC. Maikalangu said that FCT IRS is preparing way for anarchy and a breakdown of law and order by harassing AMAC residents for revenue, including the “Park and Pay” policy that is the duty of AMAC. The Council Chairman, therefore, urged President Tinubu and concerned authorities to, as a matter of urgency, call the FCT IRS to order before it plunges AMAC and the FCT into anarchy by harassing residents to pay taxes they had already paid to AMAC, even as far back as 2010. Maikalangu said that the council remains law abiding and hence will not take laws into its hands, but warned that the council will not sit idly and watch FCT IRS engage in illegalities such as collecting revenue meant for AMAC. Maikalangu advised residents not to pay revenue to agents purporting to be FCT IRS, otherwise they will pay double as only revenue paid into AMAC account will be acceptable. In the same breath, Maikalangu urged AMAC residents not to pay revenue to FCT IRS, but to challenge any official from the Service to go to court for an order that will explain how it came about collecting revenue for AMAC. 

Tax Audit: FCT-IRS, CITN train 200 officers

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) is training another batch of 200 personnel. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Mustapha Sumaila, the FCT-IRS Head of Corporate Communications, in Abuja. Sumaila said the training, which was focused on Tax Audit and Investigation, was conducted in line with the mandate of the service. According to him, FCT-IRS is established to ensure a steady increase in revenue generation in the FCT. The Acting Chairman of FCT-IRS, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi, according to Sumaila, said capacity building remained a priority. Abdullahi said he would do everything possible to uphold it as it is one of the core objectives of the service. He said the training could not have come at a better time, adding that efforts are geared at harmonizing all revenue sources. He further said all would be done to centralise collection to the FCT-IRS, stressing that there is a need to have a skilled and equipped workforce to drive the process. The acting chairman said the training would bring the total of trained personnel to 400, adding that 200 personnel were trained in 2022. Abdullahi said tax officials required technical and verbal skills to effectively audit and interact with taxpayers, especially high-network individuals, and politically exposed persons. “The responsibility of the service is critical to the success of the FCT administration. “As such, skillful tax men are needed to rapidly grow the tax net especially now that expectations are high on revenue generating agencies,” he said. The Director, Human Capital Management and Development, FCT-IRS, Mr Umar Jada, said the service would continue to partner with professional bodies like CITN. He said FCT-IRS always prioritised training and retraining of staff to improve service delivery, and achieve set goals and objectives of the service.