In conformity with the legal provisions, the present management of Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), has crashed the tariffs on produce and forestry items to more the 50 per cent.
The Acting Chairman, BIRS, Terzungwe Atser, who announced this on Friday, during a meeting with lead revenue consultants in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, explained that it was unlawful that tax payers are being charged ridiculous levies.
He said the Board frowned at the reasons given by many tax payers in the state, ranging from the high rate and multiple taxes by the tax collectors, the development that has sent some multi-million naira companies out of the state.
He said: “it is regrettably that some firms like Olam Farms, Benue Breweries Limited, Ostrich Bakeries amongst others have left the State.
“Indeed, some items were not taxable and those taxable ones were over taxed,” urging all contractors and tax collectors to ensure compliance with the adjusted tariffs.
Atser in a press statement, said the Board under his leadership will not allow tax payers to be subjected to unnecessary levies, which in most cases do not get to the government treasury.
His words, “I will ensure that only legitimate levies and taxes will be charged and collected. From now onwards, the new tariffs should commence and the old one suspended with immediate effect.”
He charged those debtor contractors to remit their collections to the Board or risk termination of their contracts.
The revenue boss also disclosed that a new taskforce to checkmate illegal check points in the state has been constituted with a directive to bring to book, any one caught operating a check point not authorised by BIRS.