To improve tax compliance, the Federal Government said tax offenders stand to enjoy 29 per cent waiver on overdue taxes if they take advantage of the recently-launched Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

Mr Abiodun Aina, Special Adviser to the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja thatthe VAIDS programme was aimed to reduce tax payers’ liability and create more awareness on the statutory function of every working citizen to pay tax.

He stated: “Usually tax offenders when caught are liable to pay their tax plus 10 per cent of the total amount as penalty fee and 19 per cent as interest making a total of 29 per cent.

“But if they take advantage of the VAIDS programme, they stand to save 29 per cent on interest and penalty on taxes they owe.

“The VAIDS programme offers a lot of benefit to tax offenders.

“They will no longer pay interest, they will not pay penalty, they will no longer be investigated and they will not be subjected to regular audit. They will also not face criminal prosecution.

“When you fail to pay taxes, you are liable to criminal prosecution because it’s a criminal offense. But with VAIDS, you won’t be prosecuted for those criminal offenses.”

Aina said that the VAIDS Secretariat had begun to receive people coming to voluntarily pay their taxes.

He however could not say how many people had already come forward since the VAIDS programme was launched by the acting President.

On the sustainability of the programme, Aina urged the citizens to take the Federal Government’s treat seriously.

“This is not business as usual. Government will not forget about it.

“One important thing we need to bring to the attention of Nigerians is that come January 2018, we have already signed agreement for automatic exchange of information with quite a number of countries.

“What that means is that from January 2018, they will begin to give information about Nigerians resident in other countries.

“So we will know about their properties, their bank accounts and we will know about their shareholdings. All these information will become available to the tax collectors.

“Whoever fails to take advantage of VAIDS by the time the programme lapses, they will then be liable to pay penalty, pay interest, face prosecution and open for further tax investigation.

“So it’s a very serious matter. It is in the interest of every Nigerian to take advantage of this scheme to ensure that you are free from prosecution in future.”

The VAIDs programme offers a grace period from July 1, 2017 toMarch 31, 2018, for tax evaders to voluntarily pay back to government what they owe.

In exchange for full and honest declaration, the government promises to waive penalties that should have been levied and also waive the interest that should have been paid on overdue taxes.

Also, those who declare honestly will not be subjected to any investigation or tax audit after the grace period.

Through the programme, the government intends to increase the country’s tax to Gross Domestic Product from six per cent to 30 per cent, and tax base from 14 million to 17 millionin two years. (NAN)