LIRS extends deadline for filing annual tax returns to February 7

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended the filing of employers’ annual tax returns from February 1 to February 7, 2024.
Speaking in a statement on Wednesday, Ayodele Subair, the executive chairman of LIRS, the one-week extension was due to a recent downtime experienced on the e-tax portal.
Statutorily, the filing of annual tax returns by companies expires on January 31 of each fiscal year and attracts stiff penalties for defaulters.
Subair advised taxpayers to take advantage of the extension to perform their civic obligation.
He said the grace period is aimed at providing taxpayers with additional time to ensure accurate and timely submission of their annual tax returns.
The LIRS boss also urged employers to take full advantage of the extension to perform their civic obligation to avoid penalties and other statutory sanctions outlined in section 81(3) of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act of 2011.
“We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and this extension is intended to accommodate such instances,” Subair said.
“We implore all employers of labour within Lagos State, who are experiencing difficulties in the filing of their annual tax returns to call our customer service centre on 0700 CALL LIRS (0700 2255 5477) or visit the help desks at our various tax stations.
“It is important to adhere to the revised deadline to maintain compliance and avoid any potential penalties.
“For further details or inquiries, we encourage taxpayers to visit the agency’s website at www.lirs.gov.ng, follow LIRS on social media platforms, or contact us via email at etaxinfo@lirs.net.”
On January 14, 2024, the state tax agency had asked companies to submit their annual tax returns by January 31.