LIRS extends deadline for submitting annual returns by one week 

The Lagos State Inside Income Service (LIRS) has prolonged the deadline for the submitting of employers’ annual tax returns by one week, transferring it from February 1 to February 7.

The extension was introduced by the Government Chairman of LIRS, Dr Ayodele Subair, in a press release issued by the company on Friday.

The transfer comes as a part of efforts to ease compliance for employers whereas guaranteeing correct submissions forward of stricter enforcement of tax legal guidelines in Lagos State.

Dr Subair defined that below present rules, the statutory deadline for submitting employers’ annual tax returns is January 31 of yearly.

Nonetheless, the service determined to grant a brief extension to permit employers further time to finish their filings appropriately and keep away from errors that might set off penalties or additional scrutiny.

What’s the LIRS saying 

The LIRS chairman mentioned well timed submitting of annual returns needs to be handled as a core duty of employers, stressing that compliance have to be embedded into routine enterprise operations.

He added that the deadline extension shouldn’t be interpreted as a leisure of enforcement requirements.

“Employers should give precedence to the well timed submitting of their annual returns, and compliance needs to be embedded as a routine enterprise follow.” 

“Digital submitting by way of the LIRS eTax platform stays the one accredited technique for submitting annual returns, as guide filings have been utterly phased out.” 

“Employers are due to this fact required to file their returns completely by way of the LIRS eTax portal: https://etax.lirs.internet,” he mentioned. 

Subair additionally suggested employers to be certain that the Tax Identification Quantity (TaxID) of all workers is appropriately captured of their submissions and inspired them to go to any LIRS workplace or use official communication channels for additional steering or assist.

Flashback 

LIRS’ renewed emphasis on compliance follows its current announcement on the enforcement of stronger tax restoration measures below the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025.

Final week, the service disclosed plans to activate its statutory energy of substitution to recuperate excellent tax liabilities from defaulting taxpayers.

• The announcement adopted the graduation of the implementation of the NTAA by the federal authorities, amid public debate over alleged alterations to sure provisions within the gazetted model of the legislation.
• In line with LIRS, Part 60 of the NTAA 2025 authorises tax authorities to invoke the facility of substitution the place a taxpayer fails to pay an assessed and ultimate tax legal responsibility when due.
• Underneath this provision, LIRS can legally direct third events holding funds belonging to a taxpayer, or owing cash to such taxpayer, to remit these funds to the service in settlement or partial settlement of unpaid taxes.
• The company clarified that the facility applies solely to established tax liabilities which have change into ultimate and stay unpaid regardless of being due.

LIRS described the facility of substitution as a lawful and environment friendly assortment mechanism for recovering unpaid taxes, together with Private Revenue Tax, Capital Features Tax, Stamp Duties and Withholding Tax administered by the service.

What you need to know 

On the federal stage, the tax surroundings has undergone vital adjustments with the introduction and implementation of latest tax legal guidelines.

The federal authorities started implementing two further tax legal guidelines in January, on high of two others that got here into drive final yr.

The 4 new legal guidelines embrace: 

• The Nigerian Income Service Institution Act
• The Joint Income Service Institution Act, which commenced on June 26, 2025
• The Nigerian Tax Act (NTA)
• The Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA).

The NTAA supplies a unified authorized framework for tax administration throughout federal and state tax authorities and introduces enforcement instruments resembling the facility of substitution, which LIRS is now getting ready to deploy alongside its ongoing drive for improved tax compliance.