Enugu State Government has taken a decisive action, sealing popular malls like ShopRite and SPAR, along with other businesses, over alleged failure to remit purchase taxes despite repeated warnings.
The crackdown, led by the State Internal Revenue Service (ESiRS), targeted establishments including Roban and Mama Onyinye restaurant, signaling a strict stance on tax compliance.
ESIRS HOD Perpetual Egwuonwu underscored efforts to engage non-compliant businesses, expressing disappointment at their lack of cooperation, particularly highlighting ShopRite’s resistance despite promises to rectify the situation.
“It is worthy of note that after we met with the Roban store they displayed our sticker and have complied with remitting their purchase tax to the IRS. On the other hand, ShopRite has frustrated all our efforts to get them to do the needful.
“It is always one story or another eventually they promised us that before the end of February, they would do something but we are in March and the ESIRS have not heard from them,” she said.
With malls shuttered until resolution, ESIRS spokesperson Nnamdi Eneh stressed the importance of tax compliance, citing ongoing public enlightenment efforts aimed at fostering understanding and cooperation.