Commentary: Anambra 2020 Tax Week – Taking Tax Awareness To The Grass Roots

Written By: Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige

Taxpayer education entails enlightening the people about the process of taxation and why they should pay tax. Effective taxpayer education assists the taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations to government, while encouraging voluntary compliance among them. In Anambra State, there is low level of Tax awareness, resulting in poor compliance in tax payment. 

To bridge this gap, the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS), in partnership with Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is organizing Anambra 2020 Tax Awareness Week. The week is to sensitize Ndi Anambra on the process of taxation. 

The 2020 Tax Awareness campaign begins today, Monday, March 2 and ends on Saturday, March 7, 2020. The theme is ‘Voluntary Compliance with Tax Payment’. A number of activities are lined up that includes the visit of the President of CITN, Dame Gladys Simplice, who will use the opportunity to inaugurate a District Society of the Institute at Onitsha.

Road shows go on today simultaneously across the three geo-political zones in Anambra State and TV/Radio programs on ABS Radio/TV to educate Ndi Anambra on Filing of Tax Returns, Anambra Revenue Stamps, Anambra State Social Identity (ANSSID) number, Whitholding Tax, Capital Gain Tax, Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Direct Assessment, etcetera.     

Tomorrow, March 3, the Chairman/Chief Executive of Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Dr. David Nzekwu and the President of CITN, Dame Gladys will be guests on ABS TV audience participatory program: ‘Good morning Anambra’. The CITN boss will have Breakfast Meeting with staff of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service and members of CITN at Bon Hotel, Awka. 

During the meeting, three key papers from erudite scholars will be presented. They include: Taxation of Informal Sector: Challenges and Prospects by Dr. David Nzekwu and Tax Education: Stakeholders Engagement By Professor Nwadialor. The other is Managing Self-Assessment and Voluntary Compliance in a Growing Tax System by Prince Ikpo Okereke 

Still on the second day of the Tax Awareness Week, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of AiRS will lead the CITN President to pay courtesy visits to Governor Willie Obiano, the MD/CEO of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Chief Uche Nworah and other stakeholders in the State.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, there will be an audience participatory radio program at Odenigbo Radio 99.1FM by 2.00pm. Town Hall meetings will hold simultaneously in the Local Government Secretariats of Orumba North and South, Onitsha North and South as well as Awka North and South Local Government Areas. Njikoka Local Government Secretariat is the venue for Njikoka and Dunukofia Local Government Areas.

The Town Hall meetings continue simultaneously on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Aguata, Ihiala, Oyi, Idemili North and South local government Secretariats. On Friday, March 6, 2020, there will be ABS Radio/TV audience participatory programs, Good Morning Anambra by 8am and Nzuko Anambra by 10am. 

Town Hall meetings continue simultaneously at Tourist Garden Hotel, Aguleri for Anambra East, West and Ayamelum Local Government Areas, while Anaocha local Government Area meets at Agulu Town Hall. Nnewi North and South will meet at Nnewi North Council secretariat, while Ekwusigo Local Government will meet at the council’s secretariat. 

On Saturday, March 7, 2020, the Tax Awareness Week will come to a close with an audience participatory radio program at Radio Sapientia FM, Onitsha by 11am to address the issues participants at the Town Hall meetings may need clarifications on. We believe that the Anambra 2020 Tax Awareness Week will provide more knowledge to as many taxpayers as possible, reduce tax evasion and improve taxpayers’ ethics and perception of fairness and equity.

The management of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Service enjoin Ndi Anambra to use the opportunity to get sensitized on the process of taxation. Remember, it pays to pay your Tax’.