Enugu State Government Clarifies Mortuary Tax Purpose
The Enugu State Government has clarified that the newly discussed Mortuary Tax is not intended as a revenue-generating measure but aims to discourage the prolonged use of mortuaries for deceased individuals.
Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), made this statement in response to concerns raised about a circular regarding the Mortuary Tax that has been circulating online.
The circular, which refers to section 34 of the Birth, Deaths and Burials Law Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004, states that a fee of N40 will be charged for corpses not buried within 24 hours of death. This fee accumulates daily thereafter. The circular also mandates that this fee be paid before the release of the corpse for burial, with payments directed to the ESIRS IGR Account.
Nnamani emphasized that this tax is not a new initiative; it is rooted in existing legislation. He accused some social media users of misrepresenting the tax by altering the date on the circular to suggest it was a recent imposition. He clarified that the actual amount is N40—not the erroneously cited N40,000.
“This is an indirect tax paid by mortuary owners, not by the families of the deceased. If a corpse remains in the mortuary for 100 days, the total tax would amount to N4,000. The primary objective is to discourage the habit of keeping the deceased in mortuaries for extended periods,” Nnamani stated.
He assured the public that no family has been prevented from burying their loved ones due to this tax and reiterated its intent to promote timely burials in the state.