FIRS to Start Weekend Operations to Meet Tax Filing Deadline

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced the extension of tax office operations to weekends for June.

The Chairman of the agency, Mr Zacch Adedeji, gave the directive in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Dare Adekanmbi, who explained that this is part of Mr Adedeji’s commitment to matching the agency’s customer-centric policy with tangible action.

“With the directive, tax offices are expected to open for business from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm on Sundays throughout the month of June,” he said.

“The weekend service, which started on June 14, will end on Sunday, June 29.

“It is aimed at helping companies that are mandated by law to file their tax returns by the end of the month meet up with the deadline,” he explained.

The statement said that the coordinating directors of Large Taxpayers Group, Government and Medium Taxpayers Group, as well as Emerging Taxpayers Group had conveyed the decision of the management to all staff in the tax offices.

“As you are aware, the month of June marks the peak of the annual Companies Income Tax (CIT) filling season.

“Many taxpayers which financial year ends December 31, are expected to file their tax returns by June 30,” the agency stated.

According to the statement, the FIRS chairman, on assumption of office, reorganised tax operations for ease of tax payment. This has led the transformation of the agency from merely being a tax-collecting entity to a service-providing body.