Enugu Gov’t Explains Levies On Corpses Kept At Mortuaries
The imposition of taxes on corpses kept at mortuaries across Enugu State is not meant to generate revenues.
The Executive Chairman of Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), Mr Emmanuel Nnamani, stated this weekend following public outcries over the alleged taxation on corpses deposited at mortuaries.
Nnamani said the tax was in line with the state’s Mortuary Tax Law, adding that, “It’s not new to the state.”
He said that the tax was an indirect one paid by mortuary owners, and not the deceased’s family.
In his words, “It’s just N40, not N40,000. If the corpse stays for 100 days, the mortuary is expected to pay the state N4,000. The tax is calculated daily if the corpse stays in the mortuary beyond 24 hours.
“For instance, if the corpse stays for 100 days, the mortuary is expected to pay the state N4,000.”
He said the levy, rather than meant to exploit the relatives of the dead, was aimed at discouraging people from keeping dead bodies in mortuaries for extended periods.
THE WHISTLER reports that the Mortuary Tax circular, addressed to all morticians, was issued by ESIRS in line with Section 34 of the Birth, Deaths and Burials Law Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004.
The circular reads, “The sum of N40.00 only is to be paid by owners of a corpse once it is not buried within twenty-four hours. The amount continues to accrue daily.
“Kindly ensure that owners of corpses make the payments before collection of the corpses for burial and then remit the same to the ESIRS in any commercial bank under the mortuary tax in Enugu State IGR Account.”
Enugu Gov’t Explains Levies On Corpses Kept At Mortuaries is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
