LIRS Extends Deadline for Employers’ Annual Tax Returns to February 7
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, has announced a one-week extension for the submission of employers’ annual tax returns, shifting the deadline from February 1 to February 7. The extension was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr Ayodele Subair. According to the service, the decision is aimed at giving employers additional time to comply while ensuring that filings are accurate ahead of stricter enforcement of tax regulations in Lagos State. Dr Subair explained that under existing laws, employers are ordinarily required to file their annual tax returns on or before January 31 each year. However, the agency considered it necessary to grant a brief extension to help employers complete their submissions properly and avoid mistakes that could result in penalties or further review. He emphasized that the filing of annual returns remains a fundamental obligation for employers and should form part of their regular business processes, rather than being treated as an afterthought. Dr Subair also made it clear that the extension does not signal any softening of LIRS’ enforcement posture. “Employers must give priority to the timely filing of their annual returns, and compliance should be embedded as a routine business practice.” He further reiterated that electronic submission remains mandatory, noting that physical or manual filings are no longer accepted by the agency. “Electronic filing through the LIRS eTax platform remains the only approved method for submitting annual returns, as manual filings have been completely phased out.” “Employers are therefore required to file their returns exclusively through the LIRS eTax portal: https://etax.lirs.net,”he said. In addition, Dr Subair advised employers to ensure that the Tax Identification Number, TaxID, of all employees is accurately reflected in their filings. He also encouraged them to visit any LIRS office or make use of the agency’s official communication channels should they require further assistance or clarification.