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Regularise Your Tax Or Face Sanctions, FIRS Warns Shipping-Lines, Dredgers, FPSO’s, Others
Fred Omotara, Lagos
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Monday warned international shipping lines, barge operators, Floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) operators amongst others to either regularise their tax affairs with the tax body by 31st of December, 2023 or face sanctions.
In a Public Notice posted on its Twitter handle on Monday, the FIRS said it has observed that many international shipping lines have refused to comply with the tax obligation imposed since 17th of December, 2021.
According to the public notice signed by FIRS Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, “This notice is published further to the FIRS circular no: 2021/14 dated 3rd June 2021 on the taxation of International shipping and air lines and public notice of 17th December, 2021 on the tax compliance of international shipping lines.
“The circular provides the basis for the taxation of International shipping lines in Nigeria and the public notice requested all International shipping lines to reqularise their tax affairs with the FIRS within three months of that publication.
“The FIRS have however observed that many International shipping lines have not complied with the tax obligation imposed by extant tax laws.
“Consequently, the FIRS hereby request all International shipping companies operating in Nigerian territorial waters in whatever capacity (Containerised, bulk cargo, fishing trawlers, crude oil or natural gas lifting vessels, dredgers, survey, FPSO’s etc) to immediately regularise their tax positions.
“All affected International shipping lines must conclude the regularisation of their outstanding tax returns at the Non-Resident Persons Tax Office (17B, Awolowo road, ikoyi, Lagos) not later than 31st, December, 2023.
“The FIRS is collaborating with relevant government regulatory and security agencies in tbe maritime sector to commence enforcement action on all defaulting shipping companies after the expiration of tbe grace period of 31st December, 2023.”