The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service has sealed four hotels in Kafanchan, Jama’ah Local Government Area over N16.8 million unpaid taxes.

The Chairman of KADIRS, Jerry Adams, disclosed this while journalists after the operations on Thursday in Kaduna.

He said the service carried out the operations on Wednesday in Kafanchan where it sealed four hotels, namely; Kyus hotel, Sunshine lodge, Bayan hotel and Cloud-9 lounge, over alleged tax defaults.

Mr Adams explained that the exercise was in line with the powers vested on the service pursuant to Section 104 (1) and (4) of Personal Income Tax Act 2011 and Section 37 (3) and (4) of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, 2020.

He also explained that the service secured a court order for its immediate closure and taking over of the entire property until the unpaid taxes were settled.

Mr Adams, however, said that before the enforcement, assessments were raised and room for objections were given and after reconciliation, the service gave enough time for payment.

“As a tax body backed by law, we must ensure that all taxes due to the state are paid,” he said.

Mr Adams lamented that there were recalcitrant tax payers, who never voluntarily comply with the tax laws.

He said that the state government needed money to provide key infrastructure, adding that the governor was doing much despite its huge debt burden.

“The state has been striving for some time now in spite of the huge debt burden. It is clearly visible that the governor is carrying out huge projects in the educational and health sectors, upgrading of rural roads and many other things at the moment,” he said.

The chairman called on tax payers to comply voluntarily, stressing that the service would go round the major cities to ensure compliance.

He stated that the service was mindful of the current economic situation in the country, adding, “we will allow the poor to breathe, while going after major taxpayers.”

(NAN)