Both chambers of the National Assembly Thursday received four different executive bills from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for far reaching tax reforms , one of which seeks to rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS ) as Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
The name changing bill for FIRS, as contained in the letter read on the floor of the Senate by its President, Godswill Akpabio , was titled: “The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill which according to President Tinubu, seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No. 13, 2007 and establishes the Nigeria Revenue Service, to assess, collect and account for revenue accruable to the government of the federation.
Other reform bills in the letter titled: “Transmission of Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly” , are (i)The Nigeria Tax Bill which seeks to provide a consolidated fiscal framework for taxation in Nigeria;
(ii) The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, which seeks to provide a clear and concise legal framework for the fair, consistent and efficient administration of all the tax laws to facilitate ease of tax compliance, reduce tax disputes and optimise revenue, and
(iii) The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill which aims at establishing the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal and the Office of The Tax Ombudsman for the harmonization, coordination and settlement of disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria.
The proposed tax bill, the president said, presents substantial benefits to a library, government connectives and economic growth by enhancing tax payers compliance strengthening fiscal institutions, and fostering a more effective and transparent fiscal regime.
“I am confident that the bill when passed, will encourage investment, boost consumer spending and stimulate Nigeria’s economic growth,” he stressed..