Edo State seals nine firms over N8.98bn tax debt

The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) has sealed the industrial premises of nine corporate entities in the Utesi Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, due to unpaid tax liabilities totaling N8,982,000,000.

The affected companies, which are predominantly Chinese-owned, include Rongtai Plastic Company Limited, Rongtai Hardware Limited, Rongtai Energy Technology Company Limited, Rongtai Building Materials Company Limited, and Rongtai Food Company Limited. Other entities involved are Five Star Wire and Cable Company, Xin Guo Technology Nigeria Limited, Changrong Wood Nigeria Limited, and Shunda Nigeria Enterprise.

According to the EIRS, the liabilities resulted from non-compliance with mandatory tax obligations, specifically the failure to register employees for Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax, failure to file annual employer tax returns, and failure to deduct and remit PAYE taxes. The enforcement action was carried out via court orders following repeated formal notices and demands for compliance. The seals will remain in place until all outstanding debts are settled.