TAT: 209 Cases Worth Over N205.6 Billion In Tax Tribunal

• TAT: 209 Cases Worth Over N205.6 Billion In Tax Tribunal

The Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT), which was established to address the cases of tax disputes, have up to 209 appeal cases, worth N205.654 billion standing before the tribunal.

Speaking at the inauguration of commissioners for the Tax Appeal Tribunal, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, revealed this.

The Permanent Secretary also made known, most of the appeal cases are highly technical and requires a lot of attention, as they involve multinational companies.

“As at the end of the third quarter of 2018, report indicated that a total of 209 appeals amounting to about $18.804 billion, N205.654 billion and €0.821 million are pending across the different zones”.

“Most of the pending cases involve multinational companies and issues for determination are highly technical and painstaking,” adding that the federal government expected the tax appeal commissioners “to hit the ground running immediately after inauguration”. Isa-Dutse said.

In her address, The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed,  said that that the interest of the government in ensuring a sustainable growth of the economy requires an additional effort at the side of the Nigerian tax system.

The Minister also remarked, that the core aim of the government in establishing the TAT is to decrease the incidence of tax avoidance and also increase the tax payers’ confidence

Going forward, she said, the government, is working towards the strengthening of the operations and legal framework of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.

Speaking on behalf of the geopolitical zones TAT commissioners at the event, the TAT Commissioner/Chairman, Lagos Zone, Mr. Lassise Phillip, assured the audience that members of the Tax Appeal Tribunal will carry out their duties effectively in a manner that will guarantee a full confidence TAT and the Nigerian tax system.

The TAT was established in accordance to Section 59 (1) and the Fifth schedule of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishement) Act, 2007.