Mixed reactions as Nigerians race to file tax returns

From Dotun Omisakin, Gbenga Adebayo, Lagos; Ahmad Datti, Kano and By Mumini Abdulkareem, Ilorin   Nigerians, especially residents of Lagos have expressed mixed reactions over the deadline for filing annual tax returns, raising concerns raised over fairness, accountability, and compliance requirements. This is coming as the Lagos State Government extended the deadline for filing individual annual […]

From Dotun Omisakin, Gbenga Adebayo, Lagos; Ahmad Datti, Kano and By Mumini Abdulkareem, Ilorin  

Nigerians, especially residents of Lagos have expressed mixed reactions over the deadline for filing annual tax returns, raising concerns raised over fairness, accountability, and compliance requirements.

This is coming as the Lagos State Government extended the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns by two weeks, from April 1 to April 14, 2026.

Daily Trust reports that various state revenue services had notified tax payers of the need to file annual tax income in line with the constitution and the new tax Act.

Specifically, Section 13 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, requires every taxable person to file an annual return of income with the relevant authority.

Also, all employees are also expected to file their annual income tax returns irrespective of the fact that their taxes may already have been deducted at source under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) scheme.

This provision is however creating confusion among workers and employees with many of them rushing to meet with the deadline amidst glitches with the portals. Some Nigerians however queried the rationale for the separate filing.

A Lagos resident, Tate Micheal, criticised the structure of taxation, arguing that it places undue burden on citizens who already provide basic amenities for themselves.

He said, “You want to reap where you didn’t sow… The money people get from their personal efforts provides their own light, internet, water, and food you want to collect just like that.”

He added that “we need to renegotiate this tax regime.”

On accountability, Chizaram Nnachi questioned the government’s consistency in demanding compliance from citizens, saying authorities often fail to meet the same standard.

“Which one has the government ever been able to explain?” he asked, adding that officials “faint or slump every time Nigerians demand it.”

Concerns were also raised about the practicality of enforcing tax return filings for all categories of earners.

Another resident of Lagos, Micheal, described the process as disorganised and potentially inefficient, warning that enforcement could outweigh revenue gains. “Telling everyone that has tax removed at source to fill assessment is total chaos,” he said, noting that “Nigeria will end up using more money to chase people than the money generated.”

Similarly, Onifade Idris argued that the responsibility for tax documentation should lie with authorities rather than citizens.

He said tax agencies ought to issue tax clearance based on existing income records, describing the current approach as inadequate. “Even in the UK informal transaction are not taxed “

However, a contrasting view was presented by another resident who maintained that the tax framework and filing deadline are not new.

He explained that recent developments largely reflect increased awareness rather than policy changes, adding that personal income tax administration remains under state internal revenue services.

Olajide Wisdom who works as internal auditor in a pharmaceutical firm said in an interview that he has filled in the necessary information but is waiting for the portal to reopen to complete his application.  

“I downloaded my bank statement, went through it and noted all my income and downloaded my payslip from the company I am currently working with. Then I put the total amount that I downloaded from my bank statement as well as my payslip as gross income.

“I thought I had submitted, only to check this morning that they were still waiting for confirmation. I think their portal is down because of the influx of traffic, many people are trying to submit because it is close to the deadline. I will wait till midnight,” he said.

However, for Abiodun Adu, a software engineer, his company, in 2025, organized a webinar instructing them on how staff can file their annual income tax.

“I didn’t wait for the deadline to file my tax on the LIRS website because my company organized a webinar on it for us last year, as we also filed for 2024 in 2025. So that already gave a level of understanding and importance of filing tax.

“My experience generally was good because it’s basically repeating the values my employer already remitted. Also, I think the site is user friendly,” he said.