LIRS urges taxpayers to meet March 31 tax return deadline

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has issued a crucial reminder to all individual taxpayers, including self-employed persons, those in the informal sector, and employees under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) scheme, to ensure the timely submission of their Annual Tax Returns on or before March 31, 2025. This directive aligns with the provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2004 (as amended), which mandates compliance with tax reporting obligations.

Speaking on the importance of this statutory requirement, Mr. Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman of LIRS, emphasized that under Section 41 of the Act, every taxable person is required to file a comprehensive return disclosing their total income from all sources for the previous fiscal year. For the current filing cycle, this covers income earned between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and must be submitted to the relevant state tax authority within 90 days of the commencement of the new assessment year.

Mr. Subair underscored the significance of adhering to the stipulated deadline, cautioning that failure to comply could result in penalties and other legal consequences. He urged all eligible taxpayers to take advantage of the streamlined digital filing process via the LIRS eTax portal at https://etax.lirs.net. The portal, he noted, is designed to enhance user convenience by providing a secure, efficient, and seamless tax return submission experience.

Reaffirming LIRS’s commitment to fostering tax compliance and ease of doing business in Lagos State, Mr. Subair encouraged taxpayers to leverage the digital platform to fulfill their obligations promptly. He assured that LIRS remains dedicated to offering support and guidance to ensure a smooth filing process.

“In line with our commitment to simplifying the tax filing process, dedicated tax officers are available at our various tax offices to assist individuals with online registration and tax return submissions via the eTax portal,” stated Mr. Subair.

Taxpayers are advised to act swiftly, file their returns before the deadline, and avoid last-minute rushes that may lead to avoidable errors or delays.