The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) says it will deploy WhatsApp, and the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service, to enhance the less cost-effective payment method of tax.

KADIRS executive chair Zaid Abubakar disclosed this on Wednesday during a public-private dialogue on the revenue generation drive.

The dialogue was organised by a Civil Society Organisation, Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP), in collaboration with KADIRS and supported by Christian Aid.

Mr Abubakar noted that WhatsApp, used primarily for social engagements, would ease taxpayers’ stress and rigours of going to banks and other designated officers for tax payment.

He explained that in deploying WhatsApp in the tax payment, each payer would be provided with a reference number already billed in the payment system.

The KADIRS boss explained that the USSD, which allows users without smartphones or data/internet connection to access mobile banking using designed codes, would make it faster and easier for the taxpayers, stating that the USSD-based mobile banking could be used for fund transfers, checking account balance, generating bank statements, among others.

“We will introduce this device before the end of this quarter,” Mr Abubakar said.