LIRS Extends Deadline for Filing Annual Returns to June 30 over COVID-19

Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), further extended the deadline for filing of Annual Tax Returns to June 30, 2020, following the continued economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement signed by Monsurat Amanda, head, Corporate Communications, LIRS, the Service explained that the move was in line with the Lagos State Government’s continuous effort to provide the much-needed relief to taxpayers and mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

The statement reads: “Annual returns for individuals (both employees and self-employed persons) that were initially due on May 31st, 2020 can now be filed any time on or before the 30th of June, 2020.”

According to Mr. Ayodele Subair, executive chairman of LIRS, “As the Lagos State Government keeps abreast of global best practices in containing the Covid-19 pandemic and eases the effects of an economic downturn on taxpayers and residents of the State, LIRS had initially extended the deadline for filing annual tax returns for two months, from the statutory March 31st of every fiscal year to May 31, 2020.

“We constantly debated what other measures could be taken as an organisation to support individuals and businesses at this time, hence, the additional one-month extension from June 1, to June 30, 2020. It is our sincere hope that taxpayers take advantage of this new extension to duly file their returns.

“Taxpayers are therefore encouraged to access the LIRS eTax platforms for all tax administration matters, including the filing of annual returns, generation of assessment and payment schedule and payment of the liabilities from the comfort of their homes and offices. All that they have to do is to simply log on to the e-Tax platform.”