The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has sealed Regency Hotels, a school and three business premises in the capital city for tax evasion.
The FCT-IRS’ Acting Director, Legal Services, Mr Festus Tsavsar, who led the enforcement team, explained that the closures were backed by an order of a court obtained by the IRS.
The closed school and businesses premises are Gratias International School, Rural and Urban Homes Ltd, Trevari International Company and Phenomenon International Company.
Tsavsar explained that the hotel and business premises contravene FCT tax laws by refusing to file their annual returns, despite issuing several notices, including court summons.
He said that they had to execute the orders directing the FCT-IRS to seal off the premises of defaulting taxpayers that were brought before it.
“We have been able to effectively comply with the court order by sealing off the premises as directed. We went to Gratias International School located in Games Village, Kaura, and sealed it off.
“The offence they committed was refusal to file their annual returns despite many notices, including a Court Summon but the school management refused to comply.
“We are at their premises and the management refused to attend to us; and refused to open their doors, despite many calls for them to do so to enable us to enforce the court order,” he said.
The Acting Director expressed concern over continued refusal by the school’s management to comply with the tax law, adding that the action was simply tax evasion, which he described as a criminal offence.
He added that to worsen the case, the management had changed their name to DGIS College to evade tax payment.
“This is also a criminal offence. The school has not been paying their taxes at all, and also refused to file their annual returns since establishment,” he said.
From the school, the team sealed Residency Hotels, at No. 4, Port Harcourt Crescent in Garki, for the same offense.
“From there we went to seal off Rural Urban Homes Ltd in Utako and two business premises residing in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, namely Trevari International Company and Phenomenon International Company,” he said.