Nigeria, UK, Others Share Data on Offshore Bank Accounts, Assets of Nigerians

By Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Nigeria has entered into Automatic Exchange of Tax Information (AETI) with some foreign countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), particularly on overseas assets owned by Nigerians.

The federal government has therefore advised Nigerian users of offshore structures to take advantage of the tax amnesty programme – Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) – to regularise their taxes before the expiration of the scheme on March 31, 2018.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who spoke yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of Progress Report on Tax Laws Reform by the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, expressed satisfaction with the data being supplied to Nigeria by foreign countries under the AETI, to which the country became a party in January 2018.

She said: “The data received in Nigeria with regard to overseas assets held by Nigerians has been impressive and will underpin a long term improvement in the nation’s tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ration, in turn, will improve life for the masses.

“The data on bank accounts, property and trusts, which has come automatically from a number of countries is being used to support the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) by allowing the tax authorities to check the accuracy of declarations received.

“The federal government is also using the data to generate ‘nudge’ letters which are being sent to those identified as being potential tax defaulters.” 

She disclosed that Nigeria had written to a number of nations to request specific information about offshore trusts and bank accounts held by its citizens.

The minister advised users of offshore structures to take advantage of VAIDS to regularise their taxes before the expiration of the amnesty programme.

According to Adeosun, “The offshore tax shelter system is basically over. Those who have hidden money overseas are being exposed and while Nigerians can legally keep their money anywhere in the world, they must first pay any taxes due to the Nigerian government so that we can fund the needs of the masses and create jobs and wealth for our people.”

She noted that the moral argument against illicit financial flows and tax evasion and the strong international cooperation were such that every Nigerian tax payer should do the right thing. 

“The needs of our people for development override any other argument against payment of tax,” she explained, stressing the need for sustainable revenue that could deliver infrastructural development for Nigeria and improve the tax to GDP ratio of the country.

The minister assured that the federal government would build a robust tax system and implement the recommendations by the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), on tax laws reform.

In his address, the NTPIC Vice Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who presented the report, said the committee considered three major policy documents namely; the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the National Tax Policy and Ease of Doing Business Plan.

He disclosed that the committee agreed that tax reforms should align with overall Government objectives as articulated in these documents, such that every action or recommendations would promote and catalyse the realisation of overall objectives.

According to him, the committee identified the seven major tax areas that would have the highest impact. 

These include: Company Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs & Excise Tariff (CET), Personal Income Tax (PIT), Pension Contributions, Industrial Development Income Tax Relief (IDITR); and Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

The proposed changes to the tax laws, he stated, would achieve specific objectives, including increasing and diversifying government revenue, simplify paying taxes and doing business, promote micro, small and medium enterprises, protect most vulnerable persons in the society, and remove obsolete, ambiguous and contradictory provisions in the law.

Oyedele added that the committee’s work resulted in two executive orders and five amendment bills.

The executive orders include Value Added Tax Act (Modification) Order and Review of Goods Liable to Excise Duties and Applicable Rate Order.

The proposed Amendment Bills are: Companies Income Tax Act (Amendment) Bill, Value Added Tax Act (Amendment) Bill, Customs, Exercise, Tariff (Consolidation) Act (Amendment) Bill, Personal Income Tax Act (Amendment) Bill and Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act (Amendment) Bill.