The deadline for employers to file their yearly tax returns has been extended by one week, from February 1 to February 7, by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

Dr. Ayodele Subair, the Executive Chairman of LIRS, formally announced the extension on Friday.

In front of the state's anticipated tighter enforcement of tax laws, the action seeks to facilitate compliance for companies while encouraging accurate filings.

According to current legislation, employers must file their annual tax returns by January 31 of each year, Dr. Subair pointed out.

He clarified that in order to allow employers more time to accurately finish their files and prevent errors that can lead to fines or heightened scrutiny, LIRS issued a brief extension.

The chairman underlined that tax compliance should be incorporated into routine company procedures and that timely filing of annual returns is an essential duty for employers.

The deadline extension, he continued, should not be interpreted as a loosening of enforcement requirements.

The timely filing of yearly reports must be a top concern for employers, and compliance should be ingrained in regular corporate operations.

Manual filings have been phased out, and electronic filing via the LIRS eTax platform is still the sole authorised way to submit annual forms.

"As a result, employers must file their returns only via the LIRS eTax portal: https://etax.lirs.net," he stated.

Additionally, Subair advised companies to contact any LIRS office or use official communication channels for information and support, and to make sure that all employees' Tax Identification Numbers are appropriately included in their filings.

Following LIRS's announcement of more stringent tax recovery procedures under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, there is a renewed emphasis on compliance.

The government announced plans last week to use its statutory power of substitution to collect unpaid taxes from taxpayers who are in default.