Income tax: FIRS launches online portal for financial institutions

By UCHE USIM, Abuja

For seamless tax collection and remittance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has launched a new Automatic Exchange of Information-Common Reporting Standard (AEOI-CRS) system for the use of financial institutions in the country.

The Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami, announced the deployment of the AEOI-CRS) in a notice at the weekend, even as he called on reporting financial institutions under the Income Tax (Common Reporting Standard) Regulations 2019 to enroll on the portal.

According to Mr Nami, the development was consistent with its ongoing reforms to align Nigeria’s tax system with global standards.

He said: ‘The Automatic Exchange of Information-Common Reporting Standard (AEOI-CRS) system portal is currently live, open and active. Consequently, all Reporting Financial Institutions (Commercial Banks, Merchant Banks, Discount Houses, Mortgage and Development Banks, Insurance and Life Assurance Companies, Investment Advisers, Trustees, Asset Management Companies, Issuing Houses, Brokers/Dealers, etc.) are invited to enroll on the AEOI-CRS portal.’

Explaining the simple process of enrolment, the FIRS boss stated that “each reporting Financial Institution (FI) is required to designate an appropriate officer as Primary User (PU).

‘The PU is the custodian of the FI’s login details on the portal. A letter signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FI introducing the PU to the FIRS is required as part of the enrolment process.

‘In order to enroll as a PU of an FI and have access to related AEOI-CRS documents, please visit the FIRS website and navigate the menu tab on Automatic Exchange of Information.

‘Please do this only if relevant contact details have been forwarded to the FIRS. FIs are to further take notice that CRS reports for 2019 are due not later than 30th September 2020,’ he explained. (Sunday Sun)