The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has alerted residents of fake and fraudulent tax collectors and the need to be vigilant.
Mr Jery Adams, the Executive Chairman, KADIRS, said this at a news conference on Friday in Kaduna.
He said that the attention of the service was drawn to the activities of some individuals and groups, operating in various strategic locations across the state.
Adams said that the groups and individuals were claiming to be empowered by KADIRS to collect taxes, levies and fines.
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He described them as criminals, who had formed a coordinated cartel to deceive unsuspecting members of the public and engage in criminal activities.
According to him, the individuals or groups are not affiliated to KADIRS and the service has not authourised any person or group aside its official channels to act on its behalf.
“We strongly advise all residents to be vigilant and refrain from engaging with these impostors,” he said.
The KADIRS boss said that the service was fully committed to ending the menace, as it had already begun apprehending some of those involved.
He urged the public to report any suspicious activities or persons claiming to represent the service, without proper identification and authourisation.
Adams said that the service also noticed that fake number plates and tax clearance certificates were being floated across the state, in connivance with some staff of the service.
“This criminal activity not only defrauds the state but also undermines the trust placed in our institution by the good people of Kaduna state.
“We are taking stringent measures to identify and deal with any staff and their cohorts involved in these illegal activities,” Adams said.
He assured the public that any staff or other persons found to be aiding the criminals or participating in fraudulent practices would face the full weight of the law.
“Under no circumstances should payments be made to any private accounts or individuals.
“All official payments are to be made only through approved KADIRS channels, such as designated banks or our official digital platforms,” he said.
He reassured all residents of the service`s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, integrity and accountability in all its operations.
The KADIRS boss urged taxpayers to ensure that all tax clearance applications and payments were done through the proper channels.
