The Kano State Internal Revenue Service on Monday sealed three companies including the Head office of Max Air Limited over the non-payment of tax liabilities for five years, from 2012 to 2017.
Similarly, the agency has also shut down the Head office of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company located along the Kano-Zaria Road for refusing to pay N241.2 million as Pay-As-You-Earn and withholding taxes from 2021 to 2022.
The agency also sealed the Northern Rice and Oil Milling Nigeria Limited at Gunduwawa Industrial Estate, off Hadejia Road.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the exercise, the Director, Debt Management and Enforcement of the agency, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the companies were closed following a court order obtained by the agency.
“We went out to enforce the payment of tax liabilities to make sure all liability taxes are paid as at when due as we have a classification of taxes because our enforcement team found out there are discrepancies in the payment of the taxes,” he said.
According to him, the decision to seal the head office of Max Air Limited, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company and other companies followed their failure or refusal to offset the tax liabilities.
“So, the agency found it necessary to take the measure to compel them to pay such taxes after several correspondences without positive responses from them,” he added.
Abdullahi noted that the measure was also necessary to ensure that all revenue accruable to the state was collected to improve the state’s revenue base, adding that the agency would continue to carry out similar exercises to ensure all tax defaulters are reminded of their responsibilities.
The director maintained that all the companies sealed would remain closed until when their outstanding debts were paid.