Kogi State Government has appealed to business operators in the state to to comply with provisions of the law concerning registering of business with Ministry of Commerce and Industry to avoid sanctions or punishment.
At a joint press conference by the ministry and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) in Lokoja on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Gabriel Olofu said point of sale terminal (PoS) operators, petty traders, miners, contractors handling jobs for the state government and others have till October 14 this year to get registered or risk sanction.
He urged business operators to pay their taxes directly into KGIRS specified account and obtain receipt or teller after which they would proceed to the ministry to obtain their Business Premises certificate.
The Commissioner explained that direct payment to the Bank is in accordance with the cashless policy of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration, noting that the state tax force on revenue drive would tour all business establishments in the state to enforce the law at the expiration of the one month grace period.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Commerce and KGIRS have area tax officers in various LGAs and other strategic positions to assist tax payers meet up their payments, stating the list of businesses, according to the provisions of the law, covers wide range enterprises.
“Kogi State Government of Nigeria Registration of Business Premises Law, 2007; Section 2, Sub Section 4 of registration of business premises law and other matters connected therewith 2007, interprets business premises to mean: the premises on which the company, firm or individual carried or caries on any business, whether fenced or not.
“Section 2, sub section 2 interprets business to include any trade, industry or profession and any occupation carried on for profit in Kogi State. Section 3, sub section 1 of the aforementioned law further provides that premises of business of every company, firm or individual carrying on any business in the State shall be registered in the manner prescribed in this law.
“At the expiration of one month, the state tax force on revenue drive would tour round all business establishments in the state to enforce the law,” he said.