ShopRite and SPAR malls are closed in Enugu due to tax evasion.

Due to their failure to submit purchase taxes from their malls to the government, Enugu ShopRite and SPAR have been sealed by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service.

The malls and shops impacted by the enforcement drive were accused by the service in a statement released on Tuesday morning of not remitting withholding purchase taxes in spite of receiving multiple warning notifications.

In addition, Roban Stores and Mama Onyinye eatery among others were sealed by ESiRS officials for the same offense, according to a statement signed by Nnamdi Eneh, the service spokeswoman.

According to Eneh, the government is requiring malls, shops, and other companies to pay purchase taxes on the commodities that customers pay each time they visit their establishments.

He cited Perpetual Egwuonwu, the ESIRS HOD of restaurants, bars, lodging facilities, and shopping centers, as saying that the agency had visited the closed malls multiple times to solicit the purchase tax but that they had neglected to remit it.

The affected parties, according to Egwuonwu, “have been recalcitrant and till now they have not done anything concerning these instructions,” despite their pleas for them to pay their taxes on time.

It is important to mention that the Roban store showed our sticker and complied with sending their purchase tax to the IRS after our meeting with them. However, ShopRite has rebuffed every attempt we have made to persuade them to take the appropriate action.

“It is always one story or another eventually they promised us that before the end of February, they would do something but we are in March and the ESIRS have not heard from them,” she said.

Egwuonwu emphasized that until the current problems were fixed, the malls will stay closed.

Eneh clarified that the organization had gone on the air to inform and educate the public about the need of filing taxes on time.

“We’ve been running our public education campaign for a time now. Most of the people were unyielding despite our efforts to raise awareness among them and convince them to pay their taxes in order to avoid being victimized by enforcement.

“The goal is not to cause any inconvenience to anyone, but since begging did not succeed, this is the only means of forcing them to fulfill their obligations.”