The Taraba State Internal Revenue Board (TIRSB) has cautioned taxpayers across the state against paying taxes into private accounts, emphasizing that all tax payments must be made through approved government channels and authorized revenue officers.
The warning was issued on Thursday during a taxpayer sensitization and awareness campaign on the state’s new tax reform initiatives held in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.
The programme, which covered major parts of the city, attracted traders’ associations, market women, bankers, and other stakeholders. According to the board, the exercise was aimed at educating residents on the new tax reforms and encouraging voluntary tax compliance.
Speaking during the campaign, the Chairman of the Board, Brigadier General (Rtd.) Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa, said the initiative was designed to engage taxpayers and strengthen public confidence in the state’s revenue collection system.
Faransa commended the cordial relationship between revenue officials and taxpayers, stressing that payment of taxes remains both a civic responsibility and a legal obligation for all eligible citizens.
He noted that the board considered it necessary to intensify public awareness to ensure residents understand that no individual is authorized to collect taxes illegally or divert government revenue into personal accounts.
The chairman warned that anyone found engaging in tax-related fraud or revenue diversion would face the full weight of the law.
He also appealed to residents to embrace the new tax reform laws, assuring them that the board, in collaboration with the state government, would ensure that revenues generated are judiciously utilized for the development of the state and the welfare of its citizens.
Some market women and members of traders’ associations who spoke with The Guardian expressed satisfaction with the awareness campaign and pledged to educate their members on the importance of complying with the new tax reforms.
They described the sensitization exercise as timely and beneficial, noting that it would help curb illegal tax collection and improve compliance among taxpayers across the state.
