- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has, on Monday, maintained that Value Added Tax (VAT) remains at 7.5% as against rumoured adjustment to 10%.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and issued earlier today.
As contained in the statement, Edun affirmed that VAT rate as contained in relevant tax laws and chargeable on goods and services remains 7.5%.
He stressed that media reports on the alleged increment is incorrect and sending wrong impression to the public.
Edun, however, affirmed that the VAT remains at 7.5% and will be charged on all taxable goods and services.
The statement read in part; “The current VAT rate is 7.5% and this is what government is charging on a spectrum of goods and services to which the tax is applicable. Therefore, neither the Federal Government nor any of its agencies will act contrary to what our laws stipulate.
“The tax system stands on a tripod, namely tax policy, tax laws and tax administration. All the three must combine well to give us a sound system that gives vitality to the fiscal position of government.
“Our focus as a government is to use fiscal policy in a manner that promotes and enhances strong and sustainable economic growth, reduces poverty as well as makes businesses to flourish.
“The imputation in some media reports on the issue of VAT and the opinion articles that have sprouted from them seem to wrongly convey the impression that government is out to make life difficult for Nigerians. That is not correct. If anything, the Federal Government has, through its policies, demonstrated that it is committed to creating a congenial environment for businesses to thrive.
“In fact, it is on record that the Federal Government, as part of efforts to bring relief to Nigerians and businesses, recently ordered the stoppage of import duties, tariffs and taxes on rice, wheat, beans and other food items.
“For emphasis, as of today, VAT remains 7.5% and that is what will be charged on all the goods and services that are VAT-able,”