By Obiekezie Uchenna
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Mr Edwin Okon, Executive Chairman, Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS) has disclosed that they would beam their searchlight on professional bodies in 2026 for tax infractions.
Okon disclosed this on Friday in Calabar during a training session organised by IRS for selected key tax paying companies across the state, to enlighten them on the newly introduced 2025 Tax Reform Act.
The training which brought together 50 firms operating in the state to discuss the practical aspects of the revised Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system, had the theme: “Understanding the New PAYE Framework: Implications and Opportunities.”
According to the chairman, private firms must do the right thing at the right time by ensuring that they filed their returns at the end of every year while for individuals it is Jan. 31.
He called on the companies to use the online platform of the service in making their remittances, noting that they were working towards enabling taxpayers to generate their tax clearance from the comfort of their homes.
“By 2026, even in your financial transactions as little as your letterhead if you are sending instructions to a bank or any financial institution, you must state your Tax Identification Number (TIN).
“Some companies may need to redesign their official letterheads to include their tax identification numbers, as it would become a mandatory requirement,” he explained.
He encourage organisations to use IRS’s online platform for remittances, sensitise their staff on the importance of compliance and refuse to give cash to any IRS staff as tax payment.
Delivering a presentation on the Overview of the Nigerian Tax Reform Act 2025, Mr Esien Ukorebi, former IRS Chairman in Cross River outlined the objectives, key provisions, and compliance models of the new tax law.
He explained that the reform will commence in January 2026, adding that 97 to 98 per cent of Nigerian workers would either pay PAYE or experience reduced PAYE obligations by that time.
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“Tax compliance goes beyond payment; it means fulfilling all obligations as required by law, individuals earning below ₦30,000 per month are exempted from tax but must still register with the tax authorities,” he narrated.
Also speaking, Mr Daniel Anko, a Resource Person, emphasised the importance of possessing a valid Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), whether as an employer or employee.
He explained that while employees’ incomes are taxed monthly, business owners are assessed at the end of the year, after which they have 90 days to file their returns.
Anko added that CRIRS has made tax payment more convenient through digital channels that allow taxpayers to complete transactions without visiting the tax offices physically.
On her part, Mrs Lilian Ugbong, Technical Adviser to the Chairman of CRIRS, spoke on innovations introduced by the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) in implementing the 2025 Act.
She explained that the Joint Tax Board (JTB) has now evolved into the JRB, with expanded powers and responsibilities aimed at improving tax compliance and harmonising revenue processes across Nigeria.
“The Act has strengthened the JRB’s authority and enhanced its collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to drive tax reforms and increase revenue generation,” she noted.
