Pulse.ng : KADIRS sensitise stakeholders on 10% withholding tax on rent, properties

By Sani Idris

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), has on Monday sensitised stakeholders in the state on 10 per cent withholding tax on rent.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of KADIRS, Mr Jerry Adams, said the withholding tax on rent is a new revenue line that they have not been collecting.

He pointed out that the withholding tax is part of what was enshrined in the Kaduna state tax codification and consolidation law.

He explained that as new area the KADIRS want to venture into, it was critical they sensitise the key stakeholders in the field.

He disclosed that henceforth, the KADIRS would be collecting 10 per cent from rent that landlords and other stakeholders that deal in rent and properties give out on their properties.

He stressed that such properties given out on rent were soo many in Kaduna state, where the KADIRS expect alot to come from it.

Speaking on feasibility of the tax collection, Adams said the KDIRS have done a survey, and still ongoing, and alot of enumeration to find out the properties that are being rented out or for rent purpose.

On compliance, the chairman said KADIRS intelligence unit were discharging their functions keenly, where the service also engaged in massive media sensitisation.

"All this things are on going. The citizens have to perform their civic responsibilities of tax compliance, so they can also become stakeholders in affairs of the state.

"If the people pay tax, they can be able to ask questions on what the Government is doing for them," Adams said.

He commended Governor Uba Sani for his achievements which included ground braking and commissioning of multiple projects.

According to him, those efforts should be able to show the citizens that their tax are being utilised properly and serve as an encouragement to them on tax compliance.

"Despite the huge debt burden on the state and lean resources, the governor still strives to do massive projects in one year. This means that once we have more money, state state will be the new Dubai,"he said.

One of the stakeholders, the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Kaduna Branch, Abdulkarim Obaito, described withholding tax as one of the oldest tax.

According to him, properties are the most surest access to tax which the Government can impose.

Obaito, who during the course of the sensitisation, demanded a copy of the withholding tax law, said it would enable them see to areas of collaboration so as to help each other bridge possible gaps such as double taxation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the stakeholders in the sensitisation included landlords, professional bodies, CSOs, among other stakeholders that deal in rent and properties.(NAN)