Chairman, Oyo State Internal Revenue Service, Prince Adeleke, has promised that there will be enough cooperation between the state’s internal revenue service and the southwest zone of Tax Appeal Tribunal.
He revealed this when the Zonal Secretary of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Southwest Zone, Mr. Hilary Onwe and his team paid him a courtesy visit at the conference room of Oyo State Internal Revenue Service.
In his welcome address, Prince Adeleke said it was an honour to Oyo State Internal Revenue Service for the Tax Appeal Tribunal to deem it necessary to come on the visit and that he expects a robust relationship between Tax Appeal Tribunal and Oyo State Internal Revenue Service as an offshoot of the visit.
Speaking, the Zonal Secretary appreciated the current leadership of the Oyo State Internal Revenue Service for its strides in ensuring increased revenue generation for Oyo State. Mr Onwe, traced the history of TAT, saying the Tax Appeal Tribunal, which was established under section 59 (1) of the FIRS Establishment Act No 13 of 2007, is a special court for the resolution of tax disputes.
Mr. Onwe, stated that as stakeholders in the tax sector, tax is a conflict prone issue. According to him, the high propensity for conflicts in tax issues is the reason the Federal Government in its wisdom, established the Tax Appeal Tribunal, to provide a mechanism for a quick, convenient, pocket-friendly and professional resolution of tax disputes.
“In the first place nobody likes to pay tax. That is the reality, even as we are seated, given the choice, no person would like to pay tax. That is why tax has been described as a bitter pill which must be swallowed. The high propensity for conflicts in tax issues is the reason the Federal Government in its wisdom, established the Tax Appeal Tribunal, to provide a mechanism for quick, convenient, pocket-friendly and professional resolution of tax disputes. The benefits in approaching the Tax Appeal Tribunal for resolution of tax disputes ensure both the Tax authorities and the Tax payers”
Onwe, added that when talking about synergy between the TAT and tax authorities, one has to understand the need for collaboration and partnership, to assist in raising the bar in tax revenue generation. He said states as Ogun and Ondo are among the 5 States under the jurisdiction of TAT Southwest Zone to have reaped bountifully from this.
In his response, the Chairman Oyo State Internal Revenue Service thanked the visitors for their expositions on the mandate of the Tax Appeal Tribunal. He assured that he and his team at Oyo State Internal Revenue Service were definitely enlightened on the need to turnover disputes to the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
Prince Adeleke, promised synergy and collaboration with the Tribunal, saying he would make appropriate report on the visit to His Excellency the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to pave way for continued interactions between the State and the Tax Appeal Tribunal, for increased revenue generation.
