LIRS issues deadline to Lagos employers to file Tax Returns

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has restated that all employers of labour operating in Lagos State must file their annual tax returns for the 2025 financial year on or before January 31, 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Ayodele Subair, said the requirement is in line with provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 (NTAA).

He warned that failure to comply would attract statutory sanctions, including administrative penalties, as stipulated under the new tax regime.

Subair explained that employers are mandated to file comprehensive returns detailing emoluments and compensation paid to employees, as well as payments made to service providers, vendors and consultants.

He added that all applicable taxes deducted for the 2025 year must be fully remitted.

Citing Section 14 of the NTAA, Subair noted that annual returns covering employees’ emoluments, taxes deducted and remitted must be submitted no later than January 31 of every year.

“Employers must prioritise the timely filing of their annual income tax returns. Compliance should be part of everyday business practice,” he said, adding that accurate and early filing supports effective revenue tracking and Lagos State’s fiscal sustainability.

He further stated that electronic filing through the LIRS eTax platform remains the only approved mode of submission, as manual filing has been completely phased out.

Employers were advised to ensure that all employees’ Tax Identification Numbers (TaxID) are properly captured, urging workers without TaxIDs to generate them promptly to avoid delays.