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EXPLAINER: What Lagos Residents Need To Know Before March 31 Tax Return Deadline

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With the March 31 deadline for filing individual annual tax returns approaching, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has clarified who must file, what documents are required, and the penalties for non-compliance.

Contents

What Is an Individual Annual Tax Return?
Is Filing Tax Returns Mandatory?
What Is the Deadline?
What Are the Penalties for Not Filing?
Do Employees Who Pay PAYE Still Need to File?
What If You Earned Little or No Income?
What Should First-Time Filers Do?
Do Freelancers and Content Creators Need to File?
What About Retirees or People Who Changed Jobs?
Does Filing Mean You Will Pay More Tax?
Is There a Cost for Filing?
What If You Make a Mistake While Filing?
How to Avoid Tax Scams
Why Tax Compliance Matters

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In a recent interview, the Director of Tax Audit at LIRS, Foluso Mustapha, explained that many taxpayers misunderstand the process—especially employees whose taxes are already deducted through Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE).

Here is a breakdown of the key issues taxpayers in Lagos should understand.

What Is an Individual Annual Tax Return?

An individual annual tax return is a formal declaration submitted to the tax authority showing all income earned in the previous year, along with deductions and tax reliefs claimed.

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According to LIRS, the requirement applies to all taxable residents of Lagos State.

This includes:

Salaried employees

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Business owners

Freelancers and gig workers

Individuals with multiple sources of income

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Mustapha explained that the return allows the tax authority to determine a taxpayer’s accurate tax position.

An individual tax return is a formal declaration expected to disclose all income, deductions, and reliefs applicable to the taxpayer for the preceding year,” he said.

Is Filing Tax Returns Mandatory?

Yes. Filing an annual tax return is a legal requirement for all taxable residents in Lagos State.

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Even Lagos residents who do not owe additional tax must still submit their returns.

READ ALSO:Tax: Enugu Hits N406bn IGR In One Year, Projects N870bn In 2026

Filing is not optional. It is a statutory obligation imposed on every taxable individual resident in Lagos State,” Mustapha said.

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When Is the Deadline?

The deadline for filing individual tax returns is March 31 every year.

Returns filed after the deadline may attract financial penalties.

What Are the Penalties for Not Filing?

Failure to file tax returns can attract significant penalties:

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₦100,000 for the first month of default

₦50,000 for each additional month of delay

In severe cases, LIRS may invoke a legal recovery measure known as “power of substitution.”

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This allows the tax authority to recover unpaid taxes through third parties holding funds on behalf of the taxpayer, such as:

Banks

Business partners

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Tenants paying rent

Mustapha noted that this measure is only applied after tax liability has been properly established and the taxpayer fails to comply.

Do Employees Who Pay PAYE Still Need to File?

Yes.

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Although employers deduct taxes under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system, employees must still file their annual tax returns.

LIRS explains that PAYE deductions are advance tax payments, not a replacement for filing.

Employees are expected to declare other income sources such as:

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Rental income

Investments

Side businesses or freelance work

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“PAYE is a withholding mechanism and not a substitute for filing obligations,” Mustapha said.

What If You Earned Little or No Income?

Taxpayers who earned little or no income during the year are still required to file.

In such cases, they can submit what is known as a “nil return,” indicating that no tax is payable.

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Documents Required for Filing

To complete their tax returns, individuals are advised to prepare the following documents:

READ ALSO:Why Nigeria’s New Tax Law May Not Succeed – CPPE

Salary or payroll records

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Bank statements

Financial statements (for business owners)

Rent receipts

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Investment income records

Evidence of deductible expenses

These documents help determine the taxpayer’s correct tax liability.

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What Should First-Time Filers Do?

First-time taxpayers must:

Obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN)

Gather records of income earned during the year

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Identify deductible expenses

Complete the tax return form on the LIRS portal

The process applies to employees, freelancers, business owners, and gig workers.

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Do Freelancers and Content Creators Need to File?

Yes.

LIRS says income earned through digital platforms or independent work must also be declared.

This includes income from:

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Freelance services

Online businesses

Brand partnerships

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Digital platforms and content creation

What About Retirees or People Who Changed Jobs?

Retirees are not automatically exempt.

While pension income may be tax-free, retirees must still declare income from other sources such as:

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Rental property

Investments

Business activities

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Individuals who changed jobs within the year must also file returns to reconcile income received from multiple employers.

READ ALSO:How To Calculate Your Taxable Income

Does Filing Mean You Will Pay More Tax?

Not necessarily.

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According to LIRS, filing a tax return simply determines a taxpayer’s actual tax position.

Filing a return does not create new tax. It simply establishes your correct tax position based on income actually earned,” Mustapha explained.

Is There a Cost for Filing?

No.

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Submitting annual tax returns to LIRS is free of charge, and taxpayers can complete the process online through the tax portal.

What If You Make a Mistake While Filing?

Taxpayers who discover errors after submitting their returns can correct them by filing an amended return or voluntarily disclosing the mistake.

How to Avoid Tax Scams
LIRS also warned residents to be cautious of individuals impersonating tax officials.

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Taxpayers should avoid making payments through unofficial channels or sharing sensitive information with unverified individuals.

Suspicious messages or requests should be reported through official LIRS channels.

Why Tax Compliance Matters
Mustapha emphasised that taxes remain a major source of funding for development in Lagos State.

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According to him, tax revenues support infrastructure projects, healthcare services, education, and transportation across the state.

Tax compliance is not merely an administrative function; it is the financial lifeblood of Lagos State,” he said.

He added that voluntary compliance enables the government to expand public services and improve the quality of life for residents.
(TRIBUNE)

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UNIMAID, Federal Polytechnic Matriculate 82 Degree Students

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University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in affiliation with the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has matriculated 82 students into the degree programmes across five courses.

Speaking during the matriculation ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi on Tuesday, Professor Muhammad Laminu Mele, the Vice chancellor, University of Maiduguri, charged the matriculated students to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the two institutions to enable them achieve the set objectives.

The VC, who was represented by Professor Muhammad Ahmad Waziri, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Services, warned that any student or group of students trying to breach the peace of the two institutions would face the full wrath of the law.

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READ ALSO:NEDC Hands Over Mega School To Bauchi Govt

The Don further assured that the University and its affiliated institutions would continue to make easy access to higher quality education to the teeming population across the country.

In a remark, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Alhaji Sani Usman, said they were affiliated with the university to pursue academic excellence, describing the affiliation as a huge pillar in the education reforms.

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READ ALSO:Bauchi Govt, UNICEF Strengthen Education Platforms To Improve Learning Outcomes

The Rector, who was also represented by Dr. Dalhatu Saidu, the Deputy Rector of the Polymeric, commended the university of Maiduguri for not only improving the UNIMAID’s conducive learning environment but expanding the horizon to different higher institutions of learning across Nigeria.

He therefore advised the newly matriculated students to pursue knowledge, to interact freely with the Polytechnic staff, be vigilant and be a brother’s keeper, adding that this would help to achieve the desired objectives.

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The affiliated courses included BSc Mass Communication, BSc Accountancy, BSc Public Administration, BSc Business Administration and BSc Banking and Finance respectively.

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Trouble Looms As Egbesu Group Drags FG To Court Over Resource Control, Others

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Group known as Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA) has dragged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to a Federal High Court, Yenagoa, over failure to create additional 24 Local government councils in Bayelsa State as the need for Ijaw to control natural resources in its territory.

The Originating Summons marked: FHC/YNA/CS/63/2026 was filed on Tuesday April 21, 2026 by the plaintiffs including; Felix Tuodolo, Weri Digifa, Ebi Waribigha, Kabowei Akamade, Rosebella Jackson, Thomas Jacklloyd, Primrose Kpokposei, David Imole and Welman Warri at the Federal High Court Yenagoa.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation.

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In the court documents, the Egbesu Assembly premised their action on the alleged failure of the federal government particularly the National Assembly to deliberate, approve and amend the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This, according to them, is to allow for resource control as well as the creation of additional LGAs in the state to fulfil the requirements in line with the Constitution.

READ ALSO:FG Bans Unauthorized Use Of Ambassador Title

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The group is therefore seeking, among others, the amendment of the constitution by the National Assembly to allow for the right to resource control.

The Supreme Egbesu Assembly described the suit action as a promise kept.

Mranwh, In a press statement announcing the institution of the lawsuit on Tuesday, the Egbesu Assembly recalled that, on 12th February 2026, it wrote to both the Federal Government and the National Assembly wherein its gave a 21-Day ultimatum for the duo to respond to the age-long demands for resource control and creation of additional LGAs or face a lawsuit.

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The statement partly reads: “Recall that on 12th February 2026, we did inform you that we have written to the National Assembly and the federal government on the need for the creation of an additional 24 Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State as well as the control of our God-given natural resources in Ijaw territory.

“We promised that if the National Assembly and or federal government did not respond to these age-long demands, we were going to seek legal actions to address our demands.

READ ALSO:

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We gave a time frame of twenty-one days for them to respond to us—we got no response!

“Today the Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA) has kept to its promise.

“We instituted an action at the Federal High Court Yenagoa against the National Assembly and the Federal Government after the expiration of the 21 days. Today we were in court for the first hearing of both cases.”

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According to the group, creation of additional local government areas for Bayelsa is as old as the creation of the State itself.

The SEA maintained that “there is nowhere in any democracy where a state is limited to just 8 LGAs: more pathetic is the fact that Bayelsa State is an oil bearing State.

“Bayelsa State presently has twenty four Rural Development Authorities (RDA) which can be easily converted to Local Government areas thereby making the State eligible to participate in the sharing of allocation and the development of their areas for the purpose of justice and equity.

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Gentlemen, we wish to inform you that our suit on Resource Control is a revival of our age long agitation.”

The group further stated that Nigeria can no longer operate a system where contributors to the national coffers are not in charge of their resources.

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The group added that the lawsuit is therefore for the Ijaw people.

The Ijaw Nation must be free from all economic strangulation carried out against them by successive Governments,” they added.

The SEA called on all Ijaws to be steadfast and resolute, and continue to support the process by attending all court sessions, stating that “your solidarity is very vital at this point of time in our history. “

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The group also called on other Ijaw organizations, communities, Niger Delta people, organizations and all people of goodwill “to join in the march to control and manage our despoiled and mismanaged natural resources.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu Sacks Wale Edun, Dangiwa As Ministers

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President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, from their cabinet positions.

Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, said the development was contained in a memo signed by the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

According to the memo, Taiwo Oyedele has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

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Also appointed is Dr. Muttaqha Darma as Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

READ ALSO:VIDEO: I Took Over Leadership From Myself; The Late Buhari Is Me — Tinubu

The memo directed the outgoing ministers to complete handover processes to their respective successors or supervising officials.

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It stated that all handing over and taking over activities must be concluded on or before the close of business on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026.

Explaining the decision, Akume said the changes were aimed at improving coordination and strengthening delivery across key sectors of the economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume stated.

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READ ALSO:VIDEO: Tinubu Till 2031, City Boy Movement Members Declare At Bayelsa Rally

He added that President Tinubu acted in line with his constitutional powers as provided under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The SGF also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the outgoing ministers for their service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours, noting that the process of cabinet reinvigoration would remain continuous.

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The statement further noted that Taiwo Oyedele was appointed as Minister of State for Finance in March 2026, while Edun was among the ministers appointed on August 16, 2023.

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