The Lagos state Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has given all taxpayers in the state a 16-day grace period to pay their taxes, after which prosecution will begin.

In a statement signed by Monsurat Amasa, the head of coporate affairs of the agency, tax defaulters were encouraged to remit all overdue taxes/levies due in December to avoid prosecution.

The grace period, which began on December 1, would lapse on December 16 — eights days from Wednesday.

“In spite of the significant decline in the allocation from the federation accounts, the Lagos State government is still embarking on massive infrastructural development and renewal,” the statement read.

“These cannot be achieved if tax payers deliberately refuse to discharge their civic responsibility to the state.

“Taxpayers are hereby advised to clear all outstanding payments on or before December 16, failing which the Lagos state government will commence criminal prosecution of offenders, with full enforcement through distrain activities in line with relevant provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (As amended).

The taxes and levies expected to remitted during the grace period are: Tax audit liability of back years, Personal income tax (PAYE, Direct assessment, self-assessment), Withholding Tax, Hotel occupancy and restaurants consumption tax and Land use charge and Ground rent.

“LIRS has put all the necessary machineries in place to ensure the enforcement of the tax laws with effect from December 17, 2016 when the grace period lapses,”Ayodele Subair (pictured next to Babtunde Fowler), the executive chairman of LIRS, said.

“Taxpayers are advised to comply, the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on any taxable persons or corporations who fail to remit all taxes/levies due.”

“The LIRS appreciates and thanks the good people of Lagos State who have continually supported the government by voluntarily paying their taxes promptly and correctly and promises to continue to act within the ambit of the law to prosecute tax evaders.”