By Dipo Olowookere
The deadline for filing of Annual Returns for individual taxpayers including self-employed persons in Lagos State has been extended by two months.
Statutorily, the filing of annual returns expires on the March 31 of every fiscal year, and attracts stiff penalties for defaulters. But the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) said taxpayers in the state now have till May 31, 2020 to do the needful.
In a statement signed on Monday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Ms Monsurat Amasa, the tax agency explained that the shifting of the filing date was due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has altered socio-economic activities around the world and as part of the on-going efforts to mitigate the effect on businesses and taxpayers.
According to the Chairman of LIRS, Mr Ayodele Subair, the extension of deadline of the Annual Returns is in response to appeals made by taxpayers as well as a policy shift by the agency to assuage the effect of COVID-19 on the taxpayers and residents of Lagos State.
“We implore the taxpayers to access our eTax platform for all tax operations and administration matters, including filing of annual returns from the comfort of their homes and offices. They can do this, by simply logging on to the eTax platform via https://etax.lirs.net or calling our Customer Care Centre on 0700 CALL LIRS (070022555477),” he said.
While further updates on business operations and alternative payment platforms of the service can be obtained by visiting the LIRS website, (www.lirs.gov.ng), and its various social media handles, the management and staff of LIRS appealled to the residents of metropolis to support the efforts of the Lagos State government led by Mr Babajide Sanwoolu by adhering strictly to the COVID-19 safety guidelines as issued by relevant health authorities.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale