Cross River Exempts Low Income Earners From Paying Tax

The Governor of Cross River state, Ben Ayade, has exempted low income earners from paying tax as part of palliative to support individuals in the wake of Corinavirus pandemic.

The governor disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the anti- tax agency inaugurated would ensure small scale businesses and peasant farmers enjoy tax holiday.

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“This is part of my post Covid-19 response. So as part of the post Covid 19 response action plan of Cross River State, we are exempting a larger part of the public from tax,” he said.

He added that, “We charge you to ensure that the poor masses of Cross River State and the small business owners do not come under the harsh hands of the desperate search for money by tax consultants”.

“I charge you that this responsibility comes with it’s own troubles, you have a choice to do that which is good and the selection of this team is based on your history, it’s based on your profile ,the understanding of your closeness to God and that you will do that which is fair to all manners of people equally and fairly.

“Your responsibility from today going forward is to put and end to illicit taxes on people. We have a tax law here that prescribes the people who are exempted from tax.All those categories of people and those that from time to time will be so announced by the Governor, including every single hotel that has less than 50 rooms in Calabar and the whole state, today are exempted from payment of taxes.

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“We have exempted all Okada riders, taxi drivers airport taxi drivers, small saloon owners, small catering and restaurant points popularly called mama put. All those people who sell basic things struggling to earn a living, they have been exempted today from paying tax. We have exempted them because it is better for me as a Governor to rather task my brain, than to tax my people.”

He said he was not interested in generating income from all sources, including imposing tax burden on the small scale business and service providers.

According to him, it is unfair to expect people who do not have, “scholarship for their children, struggling to pay school fees, struggling to get uniforms, struggling to secure their small businesses, struggling for water, struggling with power and government is providing almost nothing, why do tax them? I think it is injustice.”

The governor however urged small scale business owners to resist illegal tax collectors across the state.

“Today is the end of the bullish drive for tax and I know that the team I have assembled is not a team that will collect patronage, it’s not a team that will close their eyes to injustice. I choose only people who are close to God,” Ayade added.

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The Chairman of the agency, Bishop Emma Isong, commended Ayade’s passion for the low income earners, while promising the team would act appropriately.

“It has always been my passion on how we can encourage small businesses to thrive. You have proven to me by this appointment that you are detribalised and I want to thank you so much for believing in me”, he said

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