The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, concerning the Value Added (VAT) collection.
FIRS spokesman, Abdullahi Ahmad stated that the agency had filed a stay of execution and advised the public to maintain the status quo on the issue.
Ahmad’s statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that the Federal Inland Revenue Service has lodged an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt Judicial Division delivered by Honourable Justice Stephen Pam, in SUIT NO. FHC/PH/CS/149/2020 – Attorney General of Rivers State V. Federal Inland Revenue Service & Another.
“We have also sought an injunction pending appeal and a Stay of Execution of the said judgment.
“As the decision is being appealed and in view of the pending applications for injunction and stay of execution which the FIRS has filed in court against the judgement, members of the public are advised to continue complying with the Value Added Tax obligations until the matter is resolved by the appellate courts in order to avoid accruing the consequent penalties and interest for non-compliance.”
It may be recalled that the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had last week issued an order restraining the FIRS from collecting VAT and Personal Income Tax (PIT) in the state. The court averred that the Rivers State Government should be in charge of the PIT and VAT collection, basically implying that other state governments could do same in their jurisdictions.