The Apapa Area1 Command of the Nigeria Custom Service has issued a two weeks deadline to importers and their clearing agents who are yet to register for the Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN) which is an inter-connectivity project introduced for the purpose of clearing goods at the port.
The use of the TIN for the purpose of goods clearance at the port was introduced late last year by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
The Apapa Area1 Command of the Nigeria Custom Service has issued a two weeks deadline to importers and their clearing agents who are yet to register for the Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN) which is an inter-connectivity project introduced for the purpose of clearing goods at the port.
The use of the TIN for the purpose of goods clearance at the port was introduced late last year by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
The desire of FIRS was to develop a national single window for harmonising and standardising the taxpayers’ information and as well improve exchange of information among the stakeholders. Apart from this, the FIRS-NCS integration project also seeks to establish a data exchange interface between FIRS and NCS in real time.
However, the Apapa custom command has directed that every importer and agent who wishes to transact business at the port must have the TIN in two weeks.
The deadline which was scheduled to be announced at a stakeholders meeting at the Apapa command on Tuesday was abruptly cancelled and postponed till further notice.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent however scooped that a brief tete-a-tete was held with some of the stakeholders who visited the command early in the morning of that day and that at the meeting, two weeks was been given for agents and importers to register for the TIN number.
An importer, Mr. Osita Machie of Ossy Gold Nigeria Limited who was also present at the brief meeting hinted that they were reminded of the importance of getting the TIN for clearance purpose.
He however lamented that the process is merely a duplication of the RC number which is being used before.
"I believe it is all a duplication because the RC number which we are using before has the data of every importer, it is a way of introducing another taxation by the IRS, this is just like the policy introduced recently, a junk car that has been registered since 1980 and is no longer worth 40,000, it is now being asked to go and register with 35,000 to get a new vehicle plate number"
According to Osita, what the Nigeria Custom Service ought to have done is to stop at where they were with the RC number and continue with the TIN number for new registration.
Speaking, he however expressed hopes that “I know they will extend it because most importers that i know have now travelled out, and i learnt that Chinese people are on holiday, so it will take these importers a month or two to finish what they have gone to do and fly back"
A clearing agent, Mr. Akinbode Gbolahan also said that the introduction of the TIN number is a welcome idea because is for everybody, both the agent and the importer and that this will make it easier for them to access everybody including personal phone numbers.
"Henceforth, i am not ready to do business with any importer that does not have TIN registration, an e-mail, as well as all his other documents intact" he said.
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