The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) at the weekend reminded all employers within its domain to fulfill their statutory obligation by filing annual tax returns for the 2024 financial year on or before January 31, 2025.
To simplify the process, LIRS said it has already transitioned to a fully digital filing system, following which employers must file their annual tax returns exclusively through the LIRS e-Tax portal at https://etax.lirs.net
Manual submissions, according to a statement by Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, its Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, are no longer accepted, quoting Dr. Ayodele Subair, the Executive Chairman of LIRS, as assuring that the e-Tax platform is secure, user-friendly.
The requirement that employers should file their annual tax returns, the statement stressed, is in line with the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 LFN 2004 (as amended), emphasizing that meeting this deadline is a legal obligation.
Failure to comply, he warned, will result in statutory sanctions, including penalties, as prescribed by Section 81 of PITA.
The law requires employers to submit comprehensive annual returns detailing all emoluments paid to their employees, including taxes deducted and remitted to relevant tax authorities.
“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,” Subair stressed.
Amasa-Oyelude reminded all exployers to include the Payer ID of all employees in their returns, urging employees without a Taxpayer ID to generate one immediately on the e-Tax platform to prevent disruptions during the filing process.
To assist employers, LIRS said it has deployed staff across its offices to provide guidance on using the e-Tax portal and addressing related concerns. Employers are encouraged to act promptly to meet the deadline and ensure compliance with tax laws.
Employers and taxpayers were also encouraged to seek further information or assistance, agency’s website and various support channels and social media platforms.