The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has reminded all employers in the state to fulfill their statutory obligation by filing their annual tax returns for the 2024 financial year on or before January 31, 2025.
In an official statement issued by the Executive Chairman of Service, Dr. Ayodele Subair, indicated that the requirement on tax returns was in line with the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 LFN 2004 (as amended).
The tax administrator emphasized that meeting this deadline remained a legal obligation, warning that non-compliance with it will result in statutory sanctions, including penalties, as prescribed by law.
Subair cited Section 81 of PITA which mandates employers to submit comprehensive annual returns detailing all emoluments paid to employees, including taxes deducted and remitted to relevant tax authorities, which provided that the returns must be filed no later than January 31 each year and cover the income and taxes paid during the preceding year (to justify the position of the revenue agency.
He maintained: “Employers must prioritize the timely filing of their annual income tax returns to avoid penalties. Submitting returns on or before the deadline ensures compliance with the law and supports accurate revenue tracking, which is essential for Lagos State’s fiscal planning and sustainability.”
As part of its efforts to simplify the process, the service has transitioned to a fully digital filing system. Employers must file their annual tax returns exclusively through the LIRS e-Tax portal at https://etax.lirs.net. Manual submissions are no longer accepted.
Subair described the e-Tax platform as secure, user-friendly, and designed to provide employers with a convenient way to manage their tax obligations.
He advised employers to include the Taxpayer ID of all employees in their returns, adding that employees without a Taxpayer ID should immediately generate the ID on the e-Tax platform to prevent disruptions during the filing process.
To assist employers, the chairman confirmed that the revenue agency had deployed staff across its offices to provide guidance on using the e-Tax portal and addressing related concerns, and encouraged employers to promptly act in order to meet the January 31 deadline in compliance with tax laws.
