As part of deliberate efforts by Governor Bassey Otu led administration to ease the burden of tax multiplicity on the citizenry, the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service, has completed steps to harmonize revenue accrueable to both State and Local Government Councils, effective from November 2024.
This development is sequel to the Joint State Revenue Committee (JOSREC) meeting resolution of March, 2024, where it was unanimously agreed that all conflicting revenues from both the State and Local Government Councils be harmonized with the view to consolidating all collections, minimizing multiple taxation in the State to enable ease of doing business and by extension foster voluntary tax compliance.
The Executive Chairman of Cross River Internal Revenue Service, Prince Edwin Okon stated that the action, is in line with the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), a World Bank initiative, that qualifies a State to obtain developmental grants from International Organizations, and also to further achieve the objectives of the Presidential Fiscal and Tax Reform Committee for the harmonization of multiple taxes, levies at all levels of governance and the unification of revenue collection functions.
As a result of the harmonization, items such as Sanitation Fee/Refuse Disposal Fee and Waste Management, Business Premises and Business Rate or Permit, Signage and Advertisement Fee and Levies, have been automated and configured for activation.
Beagle News Reporter
