The Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Engineer Demola Banu has stressed that the importance of the Taxpayer. Identification Number project will create a harmonized electronic taxpayer identification and registration system.

The Commissioner for Finance, who made this known during the official launching of the project in Ilorin, said that Kwara was the first of six pilot states to formally launch this project.

According to Banu, this attests to the state growing reputation for innovation in governance and public service.

"Our prompt payment of the counterpart fund, among other considerations, earned the state the status of one of the pilot states," he remarked.

He explained further that the state intends to s«t the pace through effective and efficient implementation of the scheme.

Banu explained that the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) project was established primarily to create a harmonized electronic taxpayer identification and regis' ition system consisting of reliable and centralized information on all taxpayers in the country to aid effective tax administration processes.

According to him, to automate tax registration, activities for all levels, of government will facilitate a susta nable platform for revenue generation.

This, according to Banu, would widen the tax base through the registration of all eligible tax payers to enhance greater compliance, proper tracking and effective collection process.

"To have a reliable and centralized tax payer database, to provide for sharing of information among tax authorities and eliminate tax errors such as multiple registration and double taxation, this process will enable the widening and deepening of the tax base," he explained.

The Commissioner enjoined all Kwara residents to seize the opportunity to register without any delay in order to increase the state's revenue base and ensure that growing prosperity is shared by all.

He explained further that the intention was to automate tax registration activities for all levels of government and also facilitate a sustainable platform for revenue generation.

The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah.Ahmed, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold commended the officials of the state Ministry of Finance and Board of Intorn a Revenue for their contribut ions to the success of the programme.

"I want to assure you that my administration will give every needed support to this project to ensure its success," he remarked.

According to the commissioner, "the Taxpayer Identification Number program is an initiative of the Joint Tax Board in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the 36 State Board of Internal Revenue (SBIRs). It is an electronic system of taxpayers' registration, which would uniquely identify all taxpayers and would be available nationwide.

The major goals of the TIN Program are: to create a harmonized electronic taxpayer identification and registration system this would facilitate the sharing of information among tax authorities. This would eliminate multiple taxpayer registration, increase tax compliance and create a competitive and conducive environment for investors.

"To reduce the cost of tax compliance for tax authorities and taxpayers as it becomes easier for Tax authorities to collate, access, analyze and retrieve data. Time consuming manual processes would be removed and the time required carrying out tax audits and investigations by lax authorities would be improved. Taxpayers would also be able to access information, easily which would improve confidence and voluntary compliance.

"To widen the tax base through the registration of all eligible taxpayers. This would enhance greater compliance and returns as the available information of each taxpayer would enable proper tracking and more effective collection processes. This would lead to an increase in revenue collection.

"To determine proper revenue allocation and location of government projects. It can also lie used as a tool for National I a ii n i n g, Bud gel ing and Allocation of Resources.

"Expected outcomes for the states after the implementetion, the SBIR would have:

"Complete database of taxable entities within its authority

"Ability to track non-compliance of taxpayers

"Single source of static information on taxpayers

"Capacity lo improve automation of other lax administration processes.

Prior to the commencement of the program the required infrastructure supplied are:

"A Data Center in which I he SIGTAS solution would reside.

"Installed Wide Area Network for communication with the central Data Center in Abuja and the Disaster Recovery Site in Lagos.

"A Contact Management Center for management of Stakeholders (e.g. Tax Payers)

"A Registration Cenfer consisting of Biometrics equipment for tax registration

"Mobile Registration equipment to provide mobile registration capabilities.

He said that proper training and retraining of the TIN staff were carried out in Canada, South Africa, Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and Ilorin. The TIN staff are therefore well trained and equipped forth exercise

By The Herald