LAGOS EXTENDS INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURN DEADLINE TO APRIL 14
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By ‘Aishat Momoh
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service has extended the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns by two weeks, shifting it from March 31 to April 14, 2026.
The LIRS Executive Chairman, Dr Ayodele Subair, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, noting that the extension was aimed at allowing individuals more time to complete and submit accurate returns.
“Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr. Ayodele Subair, explained that the statutory deadline for filing of individual annual tax returns is March 31, every year. He noted that the extension is intended to provide individuals with additional time to complete and submit accurate tax returns,” the statement read.
Subair, however, cautioned taxpayers against using the extension as an excuse for delay, emphasising that compliance with tax obligations should be a routine practice.
He further stated that the agency had completely phased out manual filing, making the LIRS eTax platform the only approved channel for submitting returns.
The chairman described the portal, accessible at etax.lirs.net, as secure, user-friendly and available 24 hours daily, urging taxpayers to ensure their Tax Identification Number is correctly entered before submission.
“Dr. Subair stated that individuals must give priority to the timely filing of their annual income tax returns, noting that compliance should be embedded as a routine personal practice.
“He also reiterated that electronic filing through the LIRS eTax platform remains the only approved method for submitting annual returns, as manual filings have been completely phased out. Individuals are therefore required to file their returns exclusively through the LIRS eTax portal: https://etax.lirs.net.
“Describing the platform as secure, user-friendly, and accessible 24/7, Dr. Subair advised individuals to ensure that their TaxID (Tax Identification Number) is correctly captured in their submissions,” the statement read.
Taxpayers requiring assistance can visit any LIRS office or reach the service through its website, lirs.gov.ng, via email at etaxinfo@lirs.net, or through its customer care hotline, 0700-CALL-LIRS.
Hotjist reports that under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, every individual earning income in Nigeria is mandated to file an annual tax return covering income from the previous year.
Personal Income Tax is administered by the State Internal Revenue Service in the state of residence, rather than the state of origin.
For salaried workers, taxes are typically deducted at source through the Pay-As-You-Earn system. However, annual filing remains necessary in many states for record-keeping, verification of deductions, and obtaining a Tax Clearance Certificate.
For self-employed individuals, freelancers, traders and business owners, filing is compulsory, as they are responsible for declaring and calculating their own taxes.
The Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, had in January urged Nigerians to comply with the March 31 deadline, stressing that both employers and individuals must adhere to the law.
He added that recent tax reforms make it clear that employees cannot assume their obligations end once taxes are deducted from their salaries by employers.
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