Lagos extends tax filing deadline to april 14

The Lagos State Government has extended the 2025 individual income tax filing deadline from March 31 to April 14, 2026, following a major technical failure on its eTax platform.

The extension, announced by the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), comes after widespread complaints from taxpayers who were unable to access the portal in the final hours before the original deadline.

Users across the state reported persistent errors while attempting to upload required documents, including income records, PAYE slips, and self-employed earnings. The outage affected a broad range of taxpayers, from corporate employees to small business owners and informal sector workers.

The disruption sparked frustration online, with many expressing concern about being penalised for circumstances beyond their control.

LIRS Chairman, Ayodele Subair, said the extension was necessary to allow taxpayers to complete their filings accurately without unnecessary pressure.

He noted that while March 31 remains the statutory deadline under Nigerian tax law, the agency had to make an exception due to the system failure.

Digital-only system exposes risks

The incident highlights the growing risks tied to Lagos’ fully digital tax system, which no longer allows manual submissions.

All taxpayers, including salaried workers, freelancers, and business owners, are required to file returns exclusively through the eTax platform. While the system was designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and revenue collection, the outage exposed its vulnerability during peak periods.

At the height of the disruption, many users reported repeated failed attempts to log in or submit their returns, raising fears of automatic penalties under existing tax laws.

Under the rules, late filing can attract fines, interest charges, and even administrative restrictions, including delays in accessing certain government services.

Despite the setback, LIRS maintained that the platform remains secure and operational, urging taxpayers to take advantage of the extension to complete their filings.

The agency also encouraged early compliance going forward to avoid last-minute congestion.

Lagos generates over ₦2 trillion annually in internally generated revenue, with personal income tax forming a significant portion. Officials say timely compliance is critical to funding public infrastructure, including transportation, drainage systems, and urban development projects.

The agency added that efforts are underway to stabilise the platform and prevent similar disruptions in the future.

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