* New Act resolves excess taxation on companies鈥� profits

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari鈥檚 recent signing of the Financial Act 2020 into law, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), has described the fresh Finance Act as a game changer that will usher in a new lease of life for the insurance sector of the economy.

绿帽献妻 learnt Mrs. Ilori said the various amendments brought about by the provisions of the Act had lifted a huge tax burden off insurance companies, which had endured years of excruciating tax burden under Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) 2007.

Hitherto, this has failed to place insurance firms at a level playing field with companies in other sectors, she said.

In a statement, Mr. Davis Iyasere, Head, Corporate Communications, Human Resources & Administration, lauded the Federal Government on the speedy assent to the Act.

The release noted that it would promote reform of tax laws to align with global best practice as it is expected to enhance the industry鈥檚 contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The new regime would also encourage investors while entrenching Ease of Doing Business. All these will help the insurance business to thrive and attain its full potential, stated.

On how the Act has benefited the industry, NIA Director-General Ilori stated that Sections 5 and 6 of the Finance Act 2020 repeal the punitive and outdated provisions of Section 16 of the CITA on the taxation of insurance companies, thus resolving significantly tax issues identified in the insurance industry taxation.

鈥淭he new Act has eliminated among other things: restriction of tax-deductible claims and outgoings to percentage of total premium, restriction of period to carry forward tax losses to four years, the special punitive deemed profit basis for minimum tax computation, and resolved the issue of computation of deductible unexpired risk by adopting the use of time apportionment basis in line with the Insurance Act.

鈥淭he Finance Act has also simplified basis of computation of minimum tax payable by insurance companies as opposed to the 2007 Act which basis differs significantly from that adopted for other Nigerian companies,鈥� she said.

Other added values by the Act for the insurance industry, Ilori added, provide an inclusion of proper definition of investment income for life insurance business as 鈥榠ncome derived from investment of shareholders鈥� funds鈥�.

According to her, this will ensure that income attributable to investment of life insurance policy holders鈥� (insurance customers) funds are not subjected to tax in the hands of life insurance companies.

The tax-deductible expenses have been expanded to include additional 10 percent of estimated figures for claims incurred but not reported.

鈥淭he Finance Act 2020 has solved the issue of excess taxation on company profits to the effect that no further tax will be paid on any undistributed profit that has already been taxed.

鈥淚t is a major succour for insurers in the ongoing recapitalisation exercise, and the Federal Government should be appreciated for the Act, which has become a game changer by ensuring the fair taxation of insurance companies,鈥� Ilori stated.

She expressed delight that insurance companies would now be able to carry forward losses indefinitely, like companies in other sectors of the economy as opposed to the four-year restriction previously in place resulting in fiscal equity.