By Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh
The Chief of Centre for the Kumba Taxation Department, Denis Nkwelle Wang, has announced that he would strive to recover FCFA 30 million monthly from taxes.
Nkwelle was addressing tax payers, contractors and administrative
officials recently, during the launching of the 2009 budget for Meme.He said the February 2008 upheaval where the Kumba Taxation Department was set ablaze, affected recovery seriously.
Nkwelle since files were destroyed, it became practically impossible to trace and follow up taxpayers.He said such frustration made them achieve only 80 percent success in their 2008 target.
However, he was optimistic that more taxes would be recovered this year as they intend to have FCFA 180 million per semester.He said he would set up a team to crack down on tax defaulters while
intensifying tax recovery through massive sensitisation of the denizens
on their rights as taxpayers.
Going by some innovations for the current financial year, the taxation
boss said there is a change in advance income tax for companies dealing
in petroleum products.He said the 0.5 percent tax on their turnover has been increased to 1.1 percent.Nkwelle continued that the scope of land tax has been broadened to affect those who go in for long-term leases.
Besides, said there have been specifications of liquor license, to differentiate between alcoholic and soft drinks in the issuance of licenses. He said special income tax on civil servants' salaries also increased.
The Taxation Chief called on taxpayers never to use third parties to pay taxes and to personally come to in his office while paying taxes for sensitisation.He also advised the population to declare their taxes promptly to avoid penalties.
Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh,
You were at an occasion where there was the taxation chief and tax payers together. Why didn't you as a reporter, interview some of those tax payers to get their views on the taxation system and its methods of collection? What makes them survive under a system that many have claimed is unhealthy for business?
Posted by: Ted | Monday, 09 February 2009 at 11:22 PM
The taxation chief wants taxpayers to come directly to his office to pay their taxes and for sensitization. You and I know what he means by sensitization, he wants to tell them that they are bribing the wrong people, that he is the right person to bribe. Chief, you alone would not be able to collect tax payments from thousands of taxpayers in Kumba.
Posted by: victor | Tuesday, 10 February 2009 at 03:42 PM