State government of Osun, at the weekend, said some commercial banks operating in the state is owing it over N1 billion and gave them till December 31, 2013 to pay the debt into the coffers of the state government or be sanctioned.
Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, acting chairman, Osun State Internal Revenue Service (IRS), who made this known in Osogbo, said the said debt owed were taxes deducted from their staff and other rates that they had refused to remit to the state government.
He said our action may not be easy with the affected banks as the government would do all it could to discourage such unholy act and checkmate all other unwholesome practices in the banking sector.
Oyebanji further affirmed that; “Your bank’s failure to regularise these anomalies on or before 31st December 2013, could force the state to be left with no other option than to immediately de-list your bank as a revenue collecting agent for the state.
The government also directed all banks collecting money and taxes on its behalf to within the same period, 31st December 2013, integrate into the new e-payment system and ensure that all monies and taxes are promptly paid into the state government account for automatic revenue receipts to payers.
“The delay in posting revenue collected on behalf of the government through the e-payment system into the general revenue account impedes the flow of income; and the government has resolved that non-compliant banks shall be delisted from the list of revenue collection agents of the state government.”
The State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in a warning letter sent to banks and entitled: “Demand Notices on Liabilities from Backduty Investigation on PAYE, Withholding and Development Levy for the PAYE (Amended Liability 2012)”, and signed by Dayo Oyebanji, dated 13th December 2013, said that; “Please be informed that our board would be left with no other option than to disdain your bank provided you failed to settle your backduty liabilities mainly on PAYE and withholding taxes for the year 2012