Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Civil Society Organisations Community of Practice, Anambra State Chapter, has appealed for a clearer and more enabling environment for their practice.
The group, which is a network of registered civil society organisations (CSOs), launched their appeal during a courtesy visit to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Awka, Anambra State.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the team lead and CSOs Sterling Committee focal person for the State, Madam Rachael Yohanna, highlighted challenges faced by CSOs in navigating tax obligations, particularly with the new digital tools like TaxPro Max.
According to her, “CSOs, particularly the smaller and grassroots organisations face persistent challenges in navigating tax obligations due to limited clarity, inconsistent interpretation of tax laws and technical barriers to compliance.”
She emphasized the vital roles CSOs play in complementing government efforts and delivering essential services, and noted that as nonprofit entities, they are generally tax-exempt under the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA).
Yohanna called for clear guidelines on tax obligations, exemptions, and filing requirements, as well as simplified processes for nonprofit CSOs using TaxPro Max.
She also urged the FIRS to facilitate regular engagement with CSOs, ensure fair application of tax regulations, and develop user-friendly compliance frameworks appropriate for nonprofits operations.
Responding, FIRS Anambra Head Tax Comptroller, Charles Meribe, commended the CSOs for their unity and explained the importance of tax obligations for government funding.
He assured them that a desk office would be created to handle CSO matters, despite current understaffing in the agency.
He however requested a comprehensive list of CSOs in the state, along with their Tax Identification Numbers (TINs), to explore possible solutions.
