Osun State Government has urged taxpayers in the state to be vigilant and ensure they go to authorised channels to pay their taxes.

The Chairman, Osun State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Adesola Adewumi, in a statement on Sunday, announced the arrest of two suspects who were caught faking government tax receipts and clearance.

He said the suspects had been handed over to the state police command for further interrogation and possible prosecution.

According to him, the suspects were arrested during the agency’s recent statewide audit/enforcement exercise.

The statement partly read, “Osun Internal Revenue Service, in its efforts to block revenue leakages in the state, has arrested two persons for cloning and issuance of fake government tax receipts and tax clearance certificates to unsuspecting populace.

“The exercise is a continuous one as the commitment of this exercise is to ensure an adequate compliance to the rules governing the payment of taxes and levies, as well as blocking of all avenues of revenue leakages in the state.”

Warning against involvement in faking of government tax receipts and clearance, Adewumi noted that the agency would not condone illegality regarding tax payments.

The Osun IRS chairman also said anyone caught engaging in the act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Adewumi, however, urged diligent taxpayers to be vigilant, saying they should “not panic but ensure they go to authorised channels such as all banks, tax stations MDAs, OIRS online platform, OIRS POS marshals, and obtain government receipts for every payment they make.

“The objective of the ongoing exercise is to bring all enemies of the state sabotaging the efforts of the government regarding revenue to book.”

PUNCH