The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI ) has welcomed the declaration by the Honourable Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammad Bello on plans to harmonise tax policy within the territory to ease the burden of multiple taxation on SMEs.”We appreciate the Minister’s acknowledgement of the challenges faced by businesses within the territory due to series of levies, charges and taxes from Federal, FCTA and Area Council Administration. According to its statement signed by the President of the Chamber, Alhaji Al- Mujtaba Abubakar released on Wednesday, multiple taxation within the FCT and the larger national economy has imposed crippling consequences on businesses. “The fallout has been many failed businesses, rising level of inflation, the non-thriving of existing ones and the lack of capacity to engage many unemployed youth”, the chamber added.It noted that lower taxes when harmonised has the capacity to enhance economic prosperity while adding that as an SME nation, expanding the base and health of the business sector is a smart choice to exit recession and adjust to the pandemic economic disruption. “It is thus gratifying to note that FCTA is taking the lead to ease the tax burden on SMEs. Such an action will have multiplier effect on the FCT economy, leading to more job creation and reduction of poverty rate. “The path of lower taxation to speed up the growth of the economy is a tested tool that has helped many economies. Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, old Hong Kong, Russia, Australia, and Israel are some of the non-western countries that have, in the last 100 years, managed to move their countries from “developing” to “developed” economies through a combination of lower tax rate and high tax base.It canvassed the widening of the tax base by capturing more persons and businesses into the net as against hiking the rate of taxes.”The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry is of the view that governments at all level should focus on increasing the tax base rather than the tax rate. “According to official data, As a percentage of GDP, Nigeria taxes represent 6.1%, one of the lowest in the world. The tax-to-GDP ratio in South Africa was 29%, Ghana 18%, Egypt 15% and Kenya 18%, says the OECD in a 2019 report. More businesses and citizens should be brought under the tax regime albeit with reduced and well harmonised rates that is devoid of multiple taxation.The chamber explained that it is interested in working with the FCTA to achieve the tax reform as a way of relieving its members of the huge , multiple tax burden they currently bear and to jumpstart the economy of the territory.” We want to note that the tax policy reform being contemplated by the FCT administration is of direct significance and interest to us at the ACCI. Our members are negatively impacted by multiple taxation. The economy of the Territory is also stunted by this crippling tax regime. It is therefore our pleasure to identify and work with the FCTA to accomplish these noble objectives.It urged the FCTA to engage critical stakeholders in processing the reform to ensure that all relevant inputs are integrated before it’s finalisation while promising to provide interactive policy reform platform in support of the process.”As a leading business Chamber in the FCT and a Grade A Chamber in Nigeria, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry is looking forward to engaging and working together with government at all levels as well as other social partners, in delivering the vision of a successful and prosperous Nigeria.