Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owner of DStv and GOtv, says it has complied with the directives of the tax appeal tribunal (TAT) and has deposited N8 billion with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The counsel to the company stated this on Thursday at the resumption of the tribunal hearing over the alleged N1.8 trillion tax evasion dispute.
At the hearing, the company said the N8 billion was paid in two tranches as instructed by the tribunal on the provision of FIRS Act.
Paragraph 15(7)(c) of the fifth schedule of the FIRS Act, 2007, requires an appellant to pay 50 percent of the tax paid the previous year plus 10 percent mark-up as security before prosecuting an appeal.
At the last hearing, the TAT had upheld the FIRS submission and directed Multichoice Nigeria Limited to deposit with the FIRS an amount equals 50 percent of the assessment under the appeal plus a sum equal to 10 percent of the said deposit as a condition precedent for further hearing of the appeal.
The directive had generated confusion among stakeholders as FIRS asked the company to pay 50 percent of the disputed sum (N900 billion) under assessment.
“We have before you an affidavit of compliance. A sworn statement made under oath, first, on the 9th of Sept. Second, 22nd of September 2021,” MultiChoice told the tribunal.
“An assessment of N1.8 trillion was levied on the appellant. Appellant case before your honour is that this amount is arbitrary. No science to it and respondent contrived the numbers. The reality of the appellant’s business is far from what the respondent fixes in its office.
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“In respect of this dispute, N8 billion has been paid in the case pursuant to paragraph 15(7) of the FIRS Act. And N2bn in respect of VAT in another matter here before your honour.
“We provided two options for the tribunal to work with. Either for 2010 as a preceding year for 2011 or 2019 because we want it to expedite actions. The N1.8 trillion burden is resting on our finances and our auditors will look at our books if we did not get it out quickly.”
The lawyer added, “We have displayed enough seriousness and either way tribunal chooses to look at it. Appellant has over complied with the directive.”
On part of FIRS, the counsel claimed that the Multichoice’s affidavit and documents are self-contradictory and lacked value.
The agency urged the administrative court to prove if they (MCH) had fully complied with the directive before hearing the matter.fin
“We make this submission on the basis that the appellant while they have filed certain affidavit if which they purport to verify that they have complied with the tribunal… those documents are self-contradictory, lacked value. The duty is for the appellant to prove they have complied with the tribunal order,” FIRS said.
“What they have done is to selectively pick and choose the preceding year to reckon with.
“They chose 2010 and made a deposit. And they turned back to chose 2019 as another preceding year of N5.3billion.”
“Our submission is that there are 10 consecutive years, and 2010 or 2019 cant be proceeding years to 2011,” it added.
“The preceding years under appeal begin from 2010 and ends in 2019. They picked and chose 2010 and 2019 and forget 2011,12,13,14,15,16,17, and 2018. And that is why they have two affidavits of compliance.
“Our submission is that the assessment under appeal ought and should be confirmed by this tribunal.
“We urged you the Chairman, and other members to please direct that this appeal is foreclosed on the basis of non-compliance in view of the absence of clear evidence on the order of August 2021.”
The tribunal noted the argument of both parties and adjourned the case October 20, 2021, for its ruling, asking all parties to submit necessary notices before the date.
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