FIRS shuts Aero Contractors over tax default totaling N350m
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Wednesday, sealed off offices of the Aero Contractors over offences said to border on the failure by the airline to remit taxes amounting to about N350 million.
The closure of the airline offices came barely 24 hours after the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) called on the Federal Government through the Aviation Minister, the National Assembly, Minister of Labour and employment to intervene in the labour dispute at Aero Contractor and Arik Air to save airlines workers, their families and Nigeria’s aviation industry from imminent disaster
Both Aero and Arik are currently under administration, following takeover from their original owners by the Federal Government which placed under receivership of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
FIRS officials claimed the operation to seal off Aero’s offices became necessary after several letters to the airline had failed to yield fruit, as the airline allegedly refused to respond to the tax agency’s communications.
Aero’s debt consists of legacy taxes that were not remitted before and after the airline was placed under receivership of AMCON.
It was however learnt that the embattled airline has paid about N50 million to FIRS and that the taxes, which led to the sealing off of Aero’s offices are not current taxes.
The airline, which is the oldest domestic operators in the country, has yet to respond to the FIRS action.
