Pulse.ng : KADIRS promotes tax awareness, harps on simplified payment process with new portal

By Sani Idris

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), has on Tuesday, held a stakeholder engagement meeting, harping on simplified tax payment process with the new 'Pay Kaduna Portal'.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the 'Pay Kaduna Portal', was launched by governor Uba Sani on

May 22nd, in a bid to provide a viable means of payment of taxes and revenue through a seamless process across the State.

NAN recalled that Sani, represented by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, at the launching of the Pay Kaduna Portal, emphasised the needs for all stakeholders and citizens of the state to pay their taxes through channels provided by the KADIRS.

Speaking at the stakeholders engagement meeting on Tuesday in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Executive Chairman of the KADIRS, Mr Jerry Adams, said the essence of the engagement was to educate the stakeholders on what the agency is doing and to get feedback on their plights.

The theme of the event was "Unlocking Revenue Potential: A Collaborative Strategy for Sustainable Growth through a Centralised Payment Gateway in Kaduna State.

Adams, represented by the KADIRS Board Secretary and Executive Director Legal Services, Aisha Ahmad, noted that the service has a dual relationship with the government and various MDAs in the state.

"We do the collection on behalf of all the revenue generation MDAs then remit it back to the government,"he said.

Jerry therefore said the whole essence of the engagement was to make sure the stakeholders/citizens know the importance of tax payment which benefits them and state in general.

He equally said that the engagement was to rub minds on how the agency could improve revenue collection and service delivery to the citizens in terms of taxation.

"We want the people to begin to understand the reasons for voluntary compliance of paying tax. Without such engagement, people will be left in the dark,"he said

The executive chairman explained that the stakeholders engagement was not new, but emphasised the newly introduced 'pay Kaduna portal'.

He said the portal has made it easier for tax payers to get information about how they can pay any tax to the state.

Also, the Executive Director, Standards and Compliance of the KADIRS, Ali Gora, said the years' stakeholders engagement was special because prior to introduction of the "Pay Kaduna Portal', there were multiple platforms that provide services for various tax payers.

"Now we have been able to consolidate everything under the 'Pay Kaduna Portal' where all tax payers can pay all taxes. This implies that it is much easier, cheaper and faster for people to access our services and make payments to the state,"he said.

He urged the citizens to pay their taxes voluntarily and desist from tax evasion, stressing that tax evasion and non compliance affects the revenue line.

One of the stakeholder, CMA Abubakar Muhammad, the Zonal Commander of KASTELEA, Zone six, Zaria, commended KADIRS for simplifying tax payment through the 'Pay Kaduna Portal'.

He emphasized the importance of tax compliance in funding public services and infrastructure, while encouraging citizens to utilise the portal, promoting voluntary tax payment and reducing evasion.

Muhammad urged the public to always abide by road traffic regulations and keeping their vehicles documents up to date.

Also, Prof. Luka Mailafiya, Chairman of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Zaria Branch, said that tax awareness is crucial, while encouraging citizens to leverage the 'Pay Kaduna Portal' for seamless tax payments, and promote economic growth.

He applauded KADIRS' efforts in promoting tax awareness and simplifying payment processes.

Mailafiya said the 'Pay Kaduna Portal' demonstrates the KADIRS commitment to leveraging technology for efficient revenue collection.

As professional accountants, the chairman said they recognised the critical role taxation plays in socio-economic development.

He therefore pledged ANAN's support for KADIRS' initiatives.