The Kano State Internal Revenue Service on Monday sealed three companies including the head office of Max Air Limited located on Ashton Road in Kano State over non-payment of liability tax for five years (2012 to 2017).

Max Air Limited belongs to the Katsina-based business mogul, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, who is coincidentally an in-law to the national leader of Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabi’u Kwankwaso.

Similarly, the agency has also shut down the head office of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company located along the Kano-Zaria road for refusing to pay N241.2m as PAYE and withholding taxes for two years (2021-2022).

The agency sealed the Northern Rice and Oil Milling Nigeria Ltd at Gunduwawa Industrial Estate, off Hadejia road, Kano State.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the exercise, the Director, Debt Management and Enforcement of the agency, Ibrahim Abdullahi said the companies were closed following a court order obtained by the agency.

“We went out to enforce payment of tax liabilities to make sure all liability taxes are paid as at when due as we have the classification of taxes because our enforcement team found out there are discrepancies in the payment of the taxes,” he said.

According to him, the decision to seal the head office of Max Air Limited, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company as well as other companies followed their failure or refusal to offset the tax liabilities.

“So, the agency found it necessary to take the measure to compel them to pay such taxes after several correspondences without positive responses from them,” he said.

According to him, the measure was also necessary in order to ensure that all revenue accruable to the state was collected to improve the revenue base of the state.

He said the agency would continue to carry out similar exercises to ensure all tax defaulters are reminded of their responsibilities.

The director maintained that all the companies sealed would remain closed until when they paid the outstanding debts.