The Cross River State Internal Revenue Service has begun legal proceedings against several tax defaulters across the state as part of efforts to recover outstanding tax liabilities estimated at over ₦11 billion.

The enforcement action is being coordinated by the agency’s Legal Services and Enforcement Department and targets a number of high-net-worth individuals as well as corporate organisations accused of failing to meet their tax obligations.

According to the tax authority, the affected individuals and companies allegedly ignored several notices and assessments issued to them and have yet to settle taxes owed to the state government.

The cases involve a range of tax categories, including Personal Income Tax (PIT), Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Withholding Tax (WHT), Direct Assessment, Business Premises Levy, Development Levy and Rental Income Tax, among other statutory payments.

The development is part of a broader strategy by the revenue agency to strengthen tax compliance, safeguard the credibility of the state’s tax system and ensure that all due revenues are collected.

Speaking on the enforcement exercise, the Chairman of the Service, Prince Edwin Okon, explained that the decision to approach the courts followed repeated failures by the affected taxpayers to respond to tax assessments.

He said the action is also backed by provisions contained in the 2025 Tax Reform Act.

“Since these individuals and companies have refused to respond to the tax assessments served on them, the Service will invoke the relevant sections of the tax laws, including the 2025 Tax Reform Act, to recover all revenues owed to the state,” Okon stated.

He urged high-net-worth individuals and other taxpayers to regularise their tax records and fulfill their statutory responsibilities promptly to avoid similar enforcement measures.

Okon further reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and equitable tax administration system capable of supporting sustainable development in the state.