By Blessing Elo Oghene
The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, has commenced efforts to generate an additional N28 billion to meet its N75 billion revenue target for the 2026 fiscal year, compared with the N47 billion generated in 2025.
The Executive Chairman of the agency, Ikeazor Okonkwo, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday during an interactive session.
Okonkwo said the additional revenue would be generated through intensified tax expansion, improved electronic payment systems and measures to block revenue leakages.
He said the agency would achieve the target by broadening the tax net, enhancing electronic tax payment platforms and eliminating leakages in both the formal and informal sectors.
According to him, many individuals and corporate organisations had developed the habit of evading tax payments, thereby depriving the state of projected revenue needed for development projects.
Okonkwo disclosed that AIRS had commenced full statutory enforcement and compliance monitoring against non-compliant taxpayers, including individuals, businesses and corporate organisations across the state.
He explained that the enforcement became necessary following the expiration of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration and Tax Regularisation Scheme, VAIDS, for taxpayers in the state on September 5, 2026.
He said the VAIDS window provided taxpayers with an opportunity to voluntarily regularise outstanding tax obligations and benefit from applicable concessions.
Okonkwo said that with the expiration of the scheme, enforcement measures would apply to taxpayers who failed to regularise outstanding tax liabilities under VAIDS, received Best of Judgment assessments and failed to object to or settle them within the prescribed period, or underpaid, under-remitted or otherwise failed to meet their statutory tax obligations.
He warned that non-compliant taxpayers could face measures prescribed by law, including the issuance and service of final statutory demand notices, sealing of premises where applicable, recovery of outstanding tax liabilities through lawful enforcement procedures, and prosecution or court proceedings in cases involving established tax offences.
The AIRS chairman advised affected taxpayers to take immediate steps to regularise their outstanding obligations and comply fully with applicable tax laws.
He disclosed that about 500,000 taxpayers had already been captured in the state’s database, adding that the agency was targeting an additional 500,000 taxpayers in the coming months.
Okonkwo said the enforcement process would be largely digital, with reduced human and physical interaction.
He added that before the commencement of the enforcement exercise, the agency had notified taxable adults through the media, jingles, announcements in churches and markets, as well as public address systems.
He also disclosed that the agency was establishing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to enable taxpayers with genuine objections to present their cases for consideration.
According to him, taxpayers who had already complied with their obligations were expected to maintain compliance, while those with outstanding liabilities were required to regularise their tax affairs.
He said the agency had compiled a list of non-compliant taxpayers and was working with legal advisers on the appropriate procedures for enforcement.
Okonkwo explained that the broader objective was to change the culture of tax compliance in the state.
He said every citizen was expected to file tax returns and declare income from sources including wages, rental income, investments and other businesses before making the appropriate tax payments.
The chairman added that AIRS had spent its first six months focusing on educating and engaging taxpayers and helping them understand the tax process.
He said the agency also used available data to identify areas of significant non-compliance and taxpayers who had allegedly refused to meet their obligations.
Okonkwo said the enforcement exercise was intended to ensure that established tax liabilities were followed through in accordance with the law while providing taxpayers with opportunities to raise legitimate objections and regularise their affairs.
