Anambra Government launches Tax amnesty initiative to encourage voluntary compliance ‎

‎Kenechukwu Ofomah

‎Awka

‎The Anambra State Government has introduced the Voluntary Assets Income Declaration and Tax Regularisation Scheme (VAIDS), a tax amnesty initiative aimed at encouraging individuals, businesses and organisations to voluntarily regularise their tax obligations without incurring the full penalties for previous non-compliance.

‎ The Voluntary Assets Income Declaration and Tax Regularisation Scheme (VAIDS), announced by the , will run from July 6 to September 5, 2026.

According to an official statement signed on July 9, by the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, the initiative provides a one-time opportunity for taxpayers with outstanding tax liabilities to declare their income and assets and settle their tax obligations under favourable terms.

‎Mefor said under the scheme, eligible taxpayers who voluntarily declare previously undisclosed income, assets or tax liabilities will enjoy a 100 per cent waiver of penalties and accrued interest.

Other benefits, he noted, will be immunity from prosecution and tax audits for the periods covered by their declarations, as well as flexible payment arrangements subject to AIRS approval.

Among targets for the initiative, Mefor listed individuals and organisations that have not registered as taxpayers, failed to fully declare taxable income or assets, underpaid taxes or levies, are under tax audit or investigation, involved in tax disputes with AIRS, or have failed to respond to Best of Judgment (BOJ) tax assessments within the statutory period.

“The government also encourages business owners, companies, partnerships, sole proprietors and other taxpayers with outstanding obligations to take advantage of the one-time window to resolve their tax issues.

“Interested taxpayers are required to visit any AIRS office across the state or register through the VAIDS portal using their Anambra State Identification Number (ASIN) to complete the declaration process,” he said.

The state government, however, warned that the grace period would not be extended, announcing that full enforcement measures against tax defaulters would begin immediately after the scheme expires on September 5, 2026.