The goal of the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Code *829#, which was introduced by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is to facilitate easy and universal tax payment.
As part of the events leading up to this year’s Customer Service Week, which has the theme Above and Beyond, FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji introduced the code at the Revenue House in Abuja. Nigeria is becoming the sixth nation in Africa to use the USSD code to streamline tax payment procedures.
At the ceremony, Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, made a statement accessed by BrandSpur national news, stating that taxpayers on any mobile telecommunication network in the nation can now get in real-time support from FIRS on issues related to retrieving Taxpayers Identification Numbers (TINs), verifying Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs), finding the closest FIRS office, and getting answers to general tax-related questions.
According to him: “Every taxpayer—whether in bustling cities or remote areas—can engage with FIRS seamlessly.”
He urged people to take advantage of the USSD code’s advantages and use it for all of their questions.
Continuing, he stated: “With the *829# USSD code, taxpayers now have the power to: retrieve their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), verify their Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), access information on tax types and rates, locate the nearest FIRS office, and get answers to general tax-related inquiries.
“Without the need for internet access, all of these services are now available with a simple mobile phone. This technological leap reflects our dedication to creating a tax system that is efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of taxpayers,” he added.
The organisation also released the Customer Centricity Guide, a pamphlet with guidelines, rules, and procedures designed to guarantee that FIRS maintains taxpayers in their legitimate role as “kings.”
According to Adekanmbi: “Equally important is the unveiling of the Customer Centricity Guide. This guide embodies our commitment to putting taxpayers at the centre of our service delivery.
“It outlines the principles and values that will drive our interactions with taxpayers by ensuring that every engagement is defined by respect, professionalism, and efficiency.
“The guide serves as a reminder to us all that the taxpayer is not just a client, but a valued partner in nation-building. Through the combination of the *829# USSD code and the Customer Centricity Guide, we are reinforcing a culture of service excellence and making tax compliance not just a duty but an experience that fosters trust and voluntary participation.
“As we celebrate this achievement, I encourage everyone to make full use of the *829# service and embrace the Customer Centricity Guide. Your feedback will be crucial as we continue to enhance these services and meet the evolving needs of our taxpayers,” he added.
The FIRS’s efforts to ensure taxpayer satisfaction are commendable, as noted by Nnenna Akajemeli, the national coordinator of Servicom. She said: “There are many things to congratulate the FIRS on. One is the launch of the USSD code *829# and the customer-centricity guide. These initiatives are simplifying tax and ensuring that citizens and taxpayers are delighted at the quality of service you render.”
According to Loveth Onanuga, FIRS Director of the Taxpayers’ Service Department, the agency understood that, in keeping with the week’s theme, customer-centricity entailed going “above and beyond what customers anticipate and astonishing them with great service,” in addition to meeting their basic needs.Compose Message
