Tax Automation Aiding Revenue Growth – Fowler

• Tax Automation Aiding Revenue Growth – Fowler

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said technology integration is aiding revenue collection across the country.

Mr Babatunde Fowler, the Chairman, FIRS, disclosed this during the inaugural edition of the Nigeria e-Government Conference in Lagos.

The chairman said technology adoption made payment process more convenient and improved communication between taxpayers and the service in key areas.

The chairman, who was represented by the Assistant Director, e-Services and PEBEC Coordinator, FIRS, Dr Zainab Gobir, said the service has automated all its processes.

Fowler explained that e-registration, stamp duty payment and Value Added Tax had benefited from the automation during an upgrade done prior to 2016.

“Now, with all these initiatives put in place, our revenue has gone up tremendously, comparing it from 2015 to now. So, this goes to tell you that the FIRS is all about innovation and we are all about continuously improving our technology to better serve the taxpaying public and to serve the nation as a whole,” he said.

The chairman also said technology has helped the service improve its website to a point where Nigerians can easily operate and get an immediate response without visiting its physical office.

He stated, “The FIRS website is very robust to the point that if you check your phone now and visit our website, it would tell you the closest (FIRS) office to where you are.

“You can do your tax payment and enquiries on your phone in your house, in your offices, anywhere.”