Nigerians will have to present their tax clearance papers before getting new passports - FIRS boss, Tunde Fowler says

Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Tunde Fowler, says in the near future, Nigerians applying for new passports at Immigration offices, will have to present their tax clearance papers before they would be issued passport. Fowler disclosed this at the at the 136th meeting of the Joint Tax Board which had the theme: “ Increased Inter-Agency Co-operation to Enhance Tax Compliance and Optimise Revenue Collection’’ in Abuja yesterday.

“We did take a position and I believe it would be implemented in the very near future that before you get any services from the immigration department: renewal of passports etc, you’d have to show that you are a tax payer. These things are normal all over the world, In an effort to serve Nigerians and Nigeria better. People believe that payment of tax is a burden and I’ll repeat that you only pay tax on income and profits. So if you reside in Nigeria and you are benefiting from being a Nigerian resident, it is only fair that you contribute to the system that makes you enjoy that standard of living.’’he said