Tax Ombud to launch taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, obligations

The Office of the Tax Ombud in Nigeria is set to introduce a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and Obligations. This new initiative aims to enhance fairness, transparency, and accountability in the country's tax administration. Dr. John Nwabueze, the Chief Executive/Tax Ombud, unveiled the plans during a stakeholder engagement in Abuja.

The charter will outline taxpayers' rights, responsibilities, and the standards they should expect from tax and revenue authorities. The document will be made available through the office's digital platforms and other public channels. The initiative intends to boost taxpayer awareness, encourage voluntary compliance, avoid disputes, and foster trust across the tax ecosystem.

The Office of the Tax Ombud has also launched a website, interactive contact centre, and case management portal to facilitate taxpayer complaints, information retrieval, case tracking, and timely assistance. They are currently digitizing their operations to improve efficiency and reduce manual processes. The tax ombud is collaborating with state governments to establish zonal offices nationwide, with a few expected to commence operations soon.

This move aims to bring taxpayer protection services closer to Nigerians, especially those outside the Federal Capital Territory. Additionally, tax revenue-generating agencies should designate liaison officers to act as interfaces with the Office of the Tax Ombud. These officers will facilitate communication, referral of taxpayer complaints, dispute resolution, information sharing, and follow-up on recommendations arising from the office's interventions.

Nwabueze emphasized that Nigeria's tax administration should shift towards a system where revenue mobilization and taxpayer protection are complementary objectives. He stressed that taxpayer protection and revenue mobilization are not competing goals but integral components of an effective, trusted, and sustainable tax system. James Kalu, the Director of Financial Services at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), echoed this sentiment, stating that an efficient, transparent, and equitable tax administration system is vital for enhancing compliance, boosting revenue mobilization, and creating a conducive investment climate.

Kalu highlighted that the telecommunications sector's success in transparency, stakeholder engagement, technology, and effective dispute resolution could be applied to tax administration through simplified processes, stronger accountability, innovation, and open communication among regulators, revenue authorities, businesses, and citizens.