LIRS extends tax filing deadline to April 21 amid submission congestion

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns to April 21, 2026, following increased pressure on its electronic filing platform.

The extension was confirmed by LIRS Executive Chairman, Ayodele Subair, in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that the decision was driven by a surge in last-minute compliance by taxpayers.

According to the agency, the earlier deadline had already been moved to April 14, but high traffic on the eTax platform made it necessary to provide additional time for successful submissions.

Subair explained that the move is aimed at improving user experience while maintaining the accuracy and integrity of tax filings.

Extension follows platform congestion as taxpayers rush to comply

Mr Ayodele noted that the increased activity on the platform reflects growing compliance among Lagos residents, but also created technical pressure that slowed down submissions for some users.

“The extension responds to overwhelming compliance and is intended to enhance convenience while ensuring accuracy and integrity of submissions,” he said.

The LIRS boss reiterated that filing annual income tax returns remains a statutory obligation for all eligible individuals, urging taxpayers to take advantage of what he described as a final extension window.

He also stressed that all filings must be completed electronically through the designated eTax platform, which remains the only approved channel for submission.

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Taxpayers experiencing difficulties were advised to visit LIRS offices or reach out through official communication channels for support, as the agency moves to ensure full compliance ahead of the new deadline.