Popular TikTok personality Peller expressed frustration and distress over an alleged ₦36 million income tax bill reportedly issued by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). In a livestream featuring singer Peruzzi, Peller revealed that tax officials demanded this large sum, which he claims he cannot afford as he only recently rose to fame last year.
Peller described the tax demand as outrageous and unfair, emphasizing that he earns mainly from social media, not directly from Nigeria, and accused the government of targeting him because he flaunted his assets and income on TikTok. He lamented that despite the hefty tax demand, the government never supported him during his live streams.
Singer Peruzzi, meanwhile, advised Peller to pay the tax to avoid legal troubles, stating that paying taxes is a civic responsibility and mentioning that he personally pays even more than Peller’s billed amount. Peruzzi also encouraged Peller to request more time to settle the bill.
The controversy has sparked discussions on tax enforcement and fairness for social media influencers, with Peller highlighting the challenges of sudden wealth in digital content creation and government scrutiny.