The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a new strategic agenda for taxation and revenue collection meant to significantly boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Abdul-Kabir Ogungbo broke the news yesterday during a media parley held in Lagos.
He disclosed that the new is also expected to boost tax compliance and increase revenue collections.
Ogungbo said the comprehensive strategic agenda was expected to drive efficiency, compliance, and growth in the state’s revenue sector.
He said the launch of the Automated Revenue Receipt (ARR) system would further simplify revenue receipt and payment processes for residents and businesses within the state.
Ogungbo said the governor would be launching an upgraded Lagos Revenue Platform (LRP), platform, on August 7, which will be offering enumerated features and improved user experience.
He also spoke to the ongoing amnesty program for property owners, offering a special opportunity for them to settle outstanding property taxes. He encouraged residents to take advantage of this program by making payments through the LRP platform.
He also mentioned the e-GIS enterprise solutions being deployed by Lagos State, land administration portal, the Land Use Charge payers activation exercise among others.
He said the launch of the Automated Revenue Receipt (ARR) system would further simplify revenue receipt and payment processes for residents and businesses within the state.
The scheme, he added, also aligned with the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, built on four pillars of efficient policy structures, power of technology systems, strategic enforcement, and inclusive advocacy.
He said: “The plan would optimize revenue processes and operations through automation across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state, harmonise sector-based revenue operations and collections to promote seamless compliance by businesses and residents and implement sections of laws focused on driving compliance, such as PITA Section 85,” he said.
According to Ogungbo, the scheme would further help in developing and implementing revenue opportunities in the digital economy, property, and informal sectors to capture new market potentials; collaborating with Federal Agencies to uncover remittances by corporate bodies for PAYE and other state-related taxes and establishing a Lagos State Revenue Court to adjudicate on all revenue cases.
It will help the state government in achieving 99 per cent centralization of revenue management through the deployment of the Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP) for non-tax collections and e-TAX for tax collections and support deployment of Lagos State artificial intelligent chatbot system to drive seamless service-delivery for both formal and informal sectors.
He said it will also help the state to collaborate with Local Governments to harmonize revenue collections, and in advancing public enlightenment on compliance standards through various channels, including town hall meetings, seminars, TV appearances, jingles, newspaper publications, social media, and more.
Top most on the front bonnet is the launch and implementation of Revenue Automations Platforms:
We are committed to making it easier for our residents and businesses to comply with tax obligations. Our goal is to create a one-stop-shop for all LASG revenue collection needs, and we believe the ARR system will achieve just that. The LASG is also launching an ongoing amnesty program for property owners, offering a special opportunity to settle outstanding property taxes. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this program by making payments through the LRP platform,” he said.
