The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, KADIRS, on Thursday sealed two hotels, an event centre and other business premises within the Kaduna metropolis over unpaid taxes totalling about N422.6 million.

It was reported that the sealed business premises were Seals Admiralty Naval Suites owned by Navy Travels and Tours, Abuja, and Deluxe Suites located at Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna.

Others are Big City Event Centre, Bijo Surgical & Scientific Limited, Zedvance Finance Limited, TXTLight Power Solution, Lek Dental & Maxillofacial Hospital, Azaka, and Enyo filling station, among others.

KADIRS Board Secretary and Legal Advisor, Aysha Ahmad, said that the exercise was aimed at enforcing compliance by the businesses that failed to carry out their civic responsibility of tax payment.

She said “As usual, we are left with no option than the powers vested on us by the law to enforce compliance. This is why we are restraining on the premises.”

Ahmad stressed that KADIRS derived no joy in sealing properties of tax defaulters.

She said that the agency encourages voluntary compliance, which is why all possible means are exhausted before enforcement.

She called on the people of the state to ensure voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a civic responsibility.