LIRS Shuts 18 Hotels, Event Centres Over N91 Million Tax Evasion

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has shut down 18 hotels, restaurants and event centres over N91 million tax evasion.

LIRS

The government said the affected hotels and event centres contravened the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Laws of Lagos State 2009.

The Director, Legal Services, LIRS, Seyi Alade, on Friday during the state-wide tax enforcement exercise, warned that defaulting hotels, restaurants and event centres would henceforth face the full wrath of the law if they failed to deduct and remit their taxes as provided by the law.

According to him, failure to deduct and remit taxes as and when due attracted very serious penalties that might lead to the sealing and the seizure of the goods and chattels of the affected entities.

He said the LIRS usually gave a long rope by issuing multiple notices to the taxpayers to inform and also remind them of their tax liabilities adding that only recalcitrant taxpayers are shut down as in the present case.

Alade, therefore, urged all business entities operating in the state to ensure prompt remittance of their taxes to avoid the costly disruptions that could be visited on their businesses as a result of a distrain exercise.

The affected hotels included Starfire Hotels, Ikeja; Zaaz Hotel Limited, Ikeja; Le Parisian Suites, Opebi; Cottage Guest House Two, Opebi; Suite 29, Ikeja; Bec Ind Catering Company, Ikeja; Hotel De Jas, Oshodi; Florida International Motel, Ajao Estate; Atlantic Product Limited, Victoria Island; Soul Centre, Okota and Taesuites Limited, Ikoyi.

Others include Larex Hotels Limited, Shomolu; Piccadily Suite, Lekki; D Yard Entertainment, Surulere; Peaceland Hotels, Yaba; Nufcam Hotel Limited, Ojodu Berger; Posh Spice, Surulere and Cristabol Place, Lekki.

Source: PMNews