LIRS Announces Two-Week Extension for Lagos Personal Income Tax Filing; New Deadline Set for April 14, 2026

Lagos State extends the personal income tax filing deadline to April 14, 2026. LIRS mandates all filings must be done via the eTax platform; manual filing is ended.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 9:41 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Legit.ng

A Vital Grace Period for Lagos Taxpayers

Lagos residents have been granted a two-week reprieve to finalize their tax obligations following an official announcement by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service. The extension, which moves the deadline for filing individual annual personal income tax returns to April 14, 2026, is intended to alleviate the pressure of the traditional March 31 "last-minute rush." LIRS Executive Chairman Ayodele Subair stated that the move, approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, aims to ensure that taxpayers have sufficient time to provide accurate documentation and complete their filings with full transparency.

Compliance Warned Against Complacency

Despite the extension, the LIRS has issued a stern warning that this grace period should not be viewed as an excuse for further delay. Subair reiterated that under Nigerian law, March 31 remains the statutory deadline, and this shift is a one-off concession rather than a permanent change to the tax calendar. Taxpayers are encouraged to treat filing as a routine civic obligation to avoid the complications, errors, and penalties often associated with a final-day scramble.

The End of Manual Tax Filing

In a major step toward the full digitization of tax administration in Lagos, the LIRS confirmed that manual filing has been officially phased out. All residents—including salaried employees, self-employed professionals, and business owners—must now submit their returns exclusively through the LIRS eTax platform. The agency describes the portal as a secure, 24/7 accessible tool designed to reduce paperwork and streamline revenue collection. Filers are specifically urged to double-check their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) within the system to prevent processing delays.