LIRS Sets January 31 Deadline for Filing Annual Tax Returns

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has called on employers across the state to meet their statutory obligation to file annual tax returns for the 2024 financial year by January 31, 2025.

This directive aligns with the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 LFN 2004 (as amended), which mandates the submission of such returns annually.

In a statement, the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr. Ayodele Subair, reminded employers that compliance with this deadline is a legal requirement, warning that failure to do so would attract statutory penalties as stipulated by law.

He stressed the importance of timely submissions, noting that accurate tax filings support the state’s fiscal planning and sustainability.

Section 81 of PITA requires employers to file detailed annual returns, including all emoluments paid to employees and taxes deducted and remitted during the previous financial year.

Dr. Subair highlighted that these filings must include the Payer ID of each employee. To avoid disruptions, employees without a Taxpayer ID are advised to generate one immediately on the LIRS e-Tax platform.

To simplify compliance, LIRS has transitioned fully to digital filing. Employers must submit their returns exclusively via the e-Tax portal at https://etax.lirs.net, as manual submissions are no longer accepted.

Dr. Subair described the e-Tax platform as secure and user-friendly, emphasizing its convenience for managing tax obligations.

To support the process, LIRS has deployed staff across its offices to provide assistance and address any issues employers may encounter with the e-Tax system.

Employers are encouraged to act promptly to avoid the last-minute rush and ensure adherence to tax laws.

The agency reiterated its commitment to streamlining tax administration while urging employers to prioritize the January 31 deadline to avoid sanctions and maintain compliance.