ANAMBRA BEGINS FRESH TAX ENFORCEMENT AS REGULARISATION WINDOW CLOSES

The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service has commenced statutory enforcement against individuals, businesses and corporate organisations that have failed to meet their tax obligations in the state. The Executive Chairman of AIRS, Ikeazor Okonkwo, disclosed this during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Awka, explaining that the action followed the expiration of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration and Tax Regularisation Scheme on September 5, 2026. The scheme had given taxpayers an opportunity to settle outstanding liabilities and benefit from applicable concessions.

Okonkwo said the enforcement would affect taxpayers who failed to regularise their outstanding liabilities under the VAIDS programme, those who received Best of Judgment assessments but did not challenge or settle them within the required period, as well as individuals and organisations that underpaid, under-remitted or otherwise failed to fulfil their statutory tax responsibilities. He warned that affected taxpayers could face measures permitted by law, including final statutory demand notices, sealing of premises where applicable, recovery of outstanding liabilities and prosecution or court proceedings in cases involving established tax offences.

The AIRS chairman said the agency had already registered about 500,000 taxpayers and was working towards adding another 500,000 to its database, bringing the target to one million taxpayers across the state. He explained that the enforcement would rely heavily on digital systems in an effort to reduce physical contact between tax officials and taxpayers. According to him, the agency had spent its first six months educating and engaging taxpayers while analysing available data to identify areas of significant non-compliance before commencing the enforcement process.

Okonkwo said AIRS had also carried out extensive sensitisation through radio jingles, churches, markets and public address systems before the enforcement began. He disclosed that the agency was establishing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for taxpayers with genuine objections to assessments, demand notices or Best of Judgment assessments. He said taxpayers with valid objections could present their cases for consideration, while those without legitimate objections were expected to make the necessary payments and regularise their outstanding obligations in line with the law.

The AIRS chairman said the broader objective of the exercise was to improve the culture of tax compliance in Anambra State, stressing that taxpayers are expected to declare income from salaries, rent, investments and other business activities and pay the appropriate taxes. He outlined four options for taxpayers: those already compliant should maintain their status; those with valid objections should present them to the agency; those without valid objections should pay what they owe; and all other outstanding obligations should be regularised. AIRS said the enforcement would continue within the limits of the law as the state seeks to expand its tax base and improve revenue collection.