FIRS lists NNPC, NLNG, 18 others as top tax performing companies for 2021

Technocrat Media, Abuja

The Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Company Ltd (NLNG) has emerged as the most supportive taxpayer company and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) emerged as the highest taxpayer in 2021.

According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), NLGN emerged at the top alongside other 19 of Nigeria’s top-performing taxpayers in the year 2021.

Nigeria’s foremost tax authority commended the companies for their exceptional efforts in contributing toward providing the necessary funds for the government to meet its social contract with the Nigerian citizens, despite the harsh economic conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIRS, in a press release on Monday seen by Technocrat Media, signed by the Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, appreciated the country’s taxpayers, noting that without them the Service would not have been able to achieve the feat it recorded in 2021 when it surpassed its tax collection target for the year and crossed the N6trillion threshold for the first time.

“The FIRS is pleased to celebrate the top-performing taxpayers who contributed to her success in 2021,” the release stated. “The Service surpassed its tax collection target in 2021, and in doing so, crossed the N6trillion threshold for the first time,” he said.

The tax agency further stated that the tax revenue collection of N6.405 trillion in 2021 was made possible courtesy of the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the support of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the National Assembly too.

“The feat recorded by the Service was made possible by the uncommon leadership of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari, the active support of our supervisory Ministry, the backing of the National Assembly and its leadership as well as the cooperation of all other stakeholders in the tax area.

“To everyone who contributed to FIRS’ success in 2021, we say thank you.

“Of particular importance is the contribution of our much-esteemed taxpayers; they defied the very harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment, compliance, and support.

“The combined efforts of all taxpayers made it possible for the Service to achieve the tax revenue collection of 2021 which provided our governments with necessary funds to meet their social contracts with the citizens,” the FIRS noted.

The list of top-performing taxpayers includes the Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Company Ltd, which was recognized as the Most Supportive Taxpayer; while the Nigeria National Petroleum Company was listed as the Highest Taxpayer.

Others include Mobil Producing Limited, Star Deep Water Petroleum, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Airtel Networks Limited, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited, Nestle Nig. Plc, Dangote Cement, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd, NIG Agip Oil Co. Ltd, British American Tobacco Marketing, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic IBC Bank Plc, and Lafarge Africa Plc respectively.

The Northern Cables Processing and Manufacturing Limited (NOCACO) and Ikeja Electric Plc were appreciated by FIRS for being the most improved in tax filing and VAT compliance respectively.

The Service urged taxpayers to join hands with the tax authority to make taxation the pivot of the nation’s development and economic growth.

FIRS added that an exclusive dinner during the FIRS 2022 National Tax Week for the unveiling of the country’s top-performing taxpayers to be recognised and awarded by President Muhammadu Buhari was canceled in honor of the victims of the unfortunate attack on the Kaduna-Abuja railway on the 28th of March, 2022.