TheCable

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended the deadline for filing of annual tax returns to June 30.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Monsurat Amasa, head of corporate communications, LIRS.

Annual returns for individuals – both employees and self-employed persons –that were initially due on May 31, 2020 can now be filed on or before June 30, 2020.

Ayodele Subair, executive chairman of LIRS, was quoted as saying that the decision to extend the deadline a second time was part of efforts to ease the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on taxpayers in the state.

“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,” Subair said.

“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.”

Taxpayers were urged to take advantage of the new extension to duly file their returns, which they could do via the LIRS eTax platforms for all tax administration matters, including filing of annual returns, generation of assessment and payment schedule and payment of the liabilities.

LIRS also appealed to residents of Lagos to support the efforts of the state government by adhering strictly to the COVID-19 safety guidelines as issued by relevant health authorities.