The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has called on all individual taxpayers in the state to file their annual tax returns for the 2026 assessment year no later than 31st March 2026, warning that defaulters face penalties and enforcement action.

The directive covers a broad category of income earners from self-employed individuals and business owners to professionals, informal sector operators, and salaried workers under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) scheme. The filing obligation, anchored in Section 24(f) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 13 and 14(3) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, requires every taxable individual to declare total income earned between January and December 2025 within 90 days of the new assessment year.

Speaking yesterday, LIRS Executive Chairman, Ayodele Subair described compliance as both a legal duty and a civic one. “Filing of annual tax returns is not optional. It is a legal requirement under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025,” he said, urging Lagos residents to file early and accurately to support the state’s fiscal planning and long-term sustainability.

He cautioned that missing the deadline would attract administrative penalties and interest charges under the law.