The Tax Controller, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Babalola Olabisi has said that with the recent transformation in the service, no Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) takes above two week before clearance.

Olabisi disclosed this in Asaba when a team of the Delta State One-Stop-Shop for Investors (DSOSSI) led by the Economic Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Afam Obiago visited the office on a fact-finding mission

He said that the Service has now been recording commendable speed in their service delivery due to the introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which he said now makes their job execution faster.

“We are committed to making our service Tax-Payer-Friendly because, the happier the Tax Payers are, and the readier they will comply in terms of tax payment”.

He explained that following the recent introduction of IT in their services, tax payers can now file in their data on-line

Contrary to some insinuations in some quarters, the Tax Controller said Tax Identification Number (TIN) is completely free, stressing that whoever that demands money from a client to obtain TIN, should be regarded as a thief and treated as such.

Meantime, he said, the TIN is different from the Pre-operational levy of N20,000 which he said that the applicant must pay before registration of his/her company and appealed to Nigerians to take the issue of tax payment seriously adding that Tax Enforcement by officers of the service is the least thing FIRS would wish to do.

Earlier, the Economic Adviser to the state Governor, Ogbueshi Afam Obiago told the Tax Controller that the team was in his office on a fact-finding mission and to seek how the service would partner the state government on the DSOSSI.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Beyond Oil Tax Awareness Golf Tournament being organized by the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) for golfers across the country has been scheduled to hold between 20th and 21st of July, 2012 at the Ibori Golf and Country Club, in Asaba.

The Tourney is to further drive home the desire of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s dream of looking at alternative means of revenue generation beyond oil resources.

There will a cocktail party for participants on the first day by 6pm while the Executive governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is billed to take the tee-off at the event proper at 7am.

Golfers from across the country including the neighboring Edo State, Lagos State, Ibadan, Abuja amongst other states will join their counterparts in Delta State to slug it out in the event being touted to beat other golf competitions organized in recent times.

The Executive Chairman, Delta State Board Internal Revenue (DBIR), Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, revealed that there is an integration point between what the Government headed by Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan is doing and what the Board is also doing.

Joel-Onowakpo said the Board is using golf, a game dominated by elite’s sportsmen, as an avenue to interact with captains of industries who will be participating at the tournament with a view to letting them know the investment opportunities beckoning on would be investors.

“It is important to let people know that we want to use the tournament to let people know what is happening in the state and we are calling them to come and see. You know it it is in golf you find captains of industries. This competition is not for only people in Asaba people are going to come from far and near. People are coming from Lagos, Ibadan, Edo State, Abuja and other states from across the country.

“I want to see what we can do to attract more investors to the state. I must say that the major objective of the tournament is to bring captains of industries in a sport environment to discuss with them, showcase the investment opportunities and convince them on the need to take advantage of the convivial environment provided by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to invest in the state.”