FIRS extends VAT filing deadline for April 2023

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that it has extended the deadline for the filing of Value-Added Tax (VAT) for the month of April 2023.

“Following the introduction of a new process of claiming INPUT Tax which took effect from 1st April 2023, and the consequent concerns raised by taxpayers, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has notified taxpayers that it has graciously extended the VAT filing due date for April 2023 from the midnight of 21st April 2023 to the midnight of 30th of April 2023,” FIRS chairman, Muhammad Nami said in a statement.

He called on taxpayers to make sure that they adhere strictly to the new date as there would be penalties for defaulters.

“The Input VAT claim columns (Domestic Purchases & import Purchases) and that of Deducted at Source will be open until midnight of 30th April 2023 to allow taxpayers to make all necessary input claims for the month of April, while penalties and interest for failure to file by the extended due date will now apply to all returns filed after midnight of 30th April 2023.”

According to Nami, this filing due date extension becomes expedient to enable taxpayers to meet the requirements of the newly introduced VAT input claim processes.

The FIRS chairman also said that this filing due date extension is only for the month of April 2023.

Nami enjoined all taxpayers in the country to comply with the new deadline so as to avoid any penalty.

Meanwhile, according to the FIRS, the filing and payment due date for Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax (WHT) in Nigeria is the 21st day of the month following the reporting period of transaction.