Hotel Business Post Incorporation registrations in Rivers State.

Once your hotel business is registered with CAC, you have crossed the first hurdle of registration, the next step is to do some local registration within Rivers State. I refer to the as Post Incorporation registrations. These registrations differ from state to state depending on the state you are operating from but for the purpose of this blog we will focus on Rivers State.

If you want to register your hotel with the Corporate Affairs Commission, the minimum share capital is Ten Million (10,000,000.00). You can read up the requirements and the procedure for registering with CAC in Nigeria.

Read: HOW TO REGISTER YOUR HOTEL BUSINESS WITH CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) IN NIGERIA

Upon registration with CAC, the following are the five (5) post-incorporation registrations and approvals that are mandatory for a company seeking to engage in hotel business in Rivers State:

Registration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)

Although a Tax Identification Number (TIN) is allotted to a company upon incorporation by the CAC, but none is allotted to your company you don’t have to worry. All you need to do is to walk into any FIRS office close to you, they will generate your TIN. TIN can also be generated online via stampduty.gov.ng. A Hotel is required to register with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for tax purposes.

The following are the requirements for registration with the FIRS:

Application letter on the company’s letterhead paper
The company’s certificate of incorporation
Particulars of the company directors.

Registration with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

The NTDC is the apex regulatory body guiding the hospitality and tourism sector in Nigeria. The corporation is also conferred with the authority to perform advisory service and promote research in the field of tourism. Any company seeking to engage in the hospitality or tourism sector in River State is required to register with the corporation.

The following are the documents required to register with the NTDC:

Completed application form.
CAC certificate of incorporation.
Applicant’s identification documents.
Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificate of at least two directors (past 3 years).
Bank Reference Letter.
Corporate profile of the company.
Curriculum Vitae of key personnel supported by Professional Licenses
Passport size photographs of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
Remittance proof of PAYE tax for key staff (LLC)
Development Levy of at least two Directors
Proof/receipt of payment
Any other supporting documents as may be required

Please note that the cost of registration with NTDC will be based on assessment.

Registration with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)

Another important law that regulates the hospitality and tourism sector in Nigeria is the NOTAP. The NOTAP Act is a regulation under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and has by virtue of section 1, established the National Office for Technology Acquisition Promotion to carry out specific functions including regulation of the transfer of foreign technology to Nigeria, some of which may be used for hospitality and tourism.

Please note that a hotel management agreement must be registered with NOTAP within thirty (30) days of execution and must have a duration of five (5) years in the first instance and subject to renewal.

The following are the documents required to register with NOTAP:

A copy of the duly completed application form
CAC certificate of incorporation
Memorandum and Articles of Association of company
Duly completed Technology Transfer Agreement (TAA) pre-qualification form (forms can be downloaded online)
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
A draft copy of the Technology Transfer Agreement to be registered
A copy of the duly completed NOTAP questionnaires for different sectors
A duly completed copy of Monitoring Form
Evidence of tax payment for the preceding three years
A copy of feasibility study report of the company
Profile of the technical partners
Hotel service agreement
Annual audited accounts for the preceding three years
Performance bond for advanced payment
A comprehensive training program which must include the number of personnel, skill or knowledge to be acquired.

Read also: How to Register a Group of Companies with CAC in Nigeria

4. Registration with the Rivers State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Rivers State is responsible for the regulation of the hospitality and tourism businesses in Rivers State. The ministry has the authority to grant, renew, and revoke license for hotel operation in Rivers State. A company seeking to engage into hotel business in Rivers State is to apply to the ministry for grant of operating license.

Registration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC)

NIPC is responsible for promoting, encouraging and coordinating investment in Nigeria, and this investment also relates to investment made in the hospitality and tourism sector both by Nigerian and non-Nigerian investors.

The following are the document required to register with the NIPC: