Fake revenue agents posing as officials of the Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS) have invaded the state with fraudulent tax documents, issuing notices to business premises and other corporate organisations.
The Service said the act is intended to defraud unsuspecting taxpayers and divert money meant for government revenue.
In a statement, the Executive Chairman of DSIRS, Solomon Ighrakpata, described the development as a criminal offence capable of undermining public confidence in the state’s tax administration system.
“The DSIRS wishes to categorically state that it has not authorised any individual or unauthorised agent to issue tax demand notices or collect taxes on its behalf outside established and approved channels,” Ighrakpata stated.
He advised taxpayers to exercise due diligence and verify the authenticity of any tax demand notice, assessment, payment request or correspondence purportedly issued by the DSIRS before making any payment.
Ighrakpata further urged members of the public to make payments only through officially approved government channels and to promptly report any suspicious notice, payment request or individual claiming to be an authorised tax official to the Service for verification.
He disclosed that the DSIRS is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to identify, apprehend and prosecute persons involved in the issuance of fake demand notices, impersonation of tax officials and other fraudulent tax collection activities.
According to him, the Service will pursue such cases to the fullest extent permitted by law, warning that the perpetrators could cause revenue leakages to the government, financial losses to taxpayers and disruption of the state’s revenue administration.
He reassured taxpayers that legitimate taxes paid to the government are critical to the provision of public infrastructure and essential services, adding that effort is being made to protect the integrity of the state’s revenue collection system.
He called on all taxpayers, businesses and members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with the Service in the fight against tax fraud and revenue diversion.
Ighrakpata advised that any tax demand notice or related correspondence should be verified through the DSIRS’s official communication channels before payment, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to a transparent, accountable, efficient and credible tax administration system.
