In a major reminder to taxpayers across Nigeria, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has emphasized that every individual taxpayer is legally obliged to file their annual tax returns on or before March 31, 2026. Oyedele made this appeal during a webinar organized for human resources managers, payroll officers, tax managers, and other stakeholders in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board.
Why the Reminder Matters
Oyedele’s statement comes as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to improve tax compliance in Nigeria, where non-filing of self-assessment tax returns remains a significant challenge. According to him, individual compliance rates are worryingly low, with some states recording compliance levels as low as under 5%.
He explained that many Nigerians mistakenly believe that if their employers deduct tax from their salaries under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system, they no longer need to file returns themselves. This assumption is incorrect. Both under existing and newly reformed tax laws, employees must still file their annual tax returns even after PAYE deductions.
Who Must File by March 31
According to Oyedele:
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All individual taxpayers — including employees, self-employed professionals, and others — must file a self-assessment tax return by March 31 of each year for income earned in the previous fiscal year.
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Employers have a separate, earlier deadline: they must file annual returns for their employees by January 31 each year.
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Low-income earners are not exempt from filing; even those with modest earnings must file returns (though the actual tax liability may still be zero depending on income thresholds).
Context: Nigeria’s Tax Reform Push
This reminder is part of broader tax reform initiatives under the Nigeria Tax Act and related fiscal policy changeschampioned by Oyedele’s committee. These reforms aim to:
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Expand the tax base by improving compliance across states and income groups.
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Encourage greater transparency, including new rules requiring businesses to disclose any tax incentives or exemptions they enjoy when filing returns.
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Simplify tax administration and collection through collaborations between the Joint Revenue Board, State Internal Revenue Services, and other revenue authorities — with public education and digital filing tools to make compliance easier.
Clarifying the Law
While tax laws previously emphasized filing, a key point Oyedele underscored is that the obligation to file doesn’t disappear just because tax has been deducted at source:
“Many people assume that if they are an employee and the employer has deducted PAYE, they don’t have to do anything. That is wrong. Both under the old and new tax laws, you must still file your returns.”
This clarification is important because virtually all formal employees have PAYE withheld monthly, but often never file annual self-assessment returns.
What Happens After Filing
Filing returns helps tax authorities:
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Verify individuals’ total income from all sources.
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Ensure the correct amount of tax is assessed and paid.
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Update taxpayer records and improve overall tax compliance metrics.
Although specific penalties for non-filing were not the focus of Oyedele’s remarks, Nigeria’s tax laws generally allow authorities to impose fines or sanctions for late or non-filing, particularly when taxpayers fail repeatedly to comply.
How to File
While Oyedele did not provide step-by-step filing instructions in the webinar, most filing processes involve:
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Registering for a Tax Identification Number (TIN), if you haven’t already.
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Submitting your annual self-assessment return with your relevant state internal revenue service (SIRS), or other appropriate tax authority.
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Using online filing platforms — increasingly deployed by states and federal tax agencies — to ease compliance.
Many revenue authorities also run public guidance and help desks as the deadline approaches to assist taxpayers.
Conclusion
As the March 31 deadline approaches, the message from Oyedele and the Federal Government is clear: filing your annual tax return is not optional — it’s a legal obligation for every individual taxpayer in Nigeria.
Compliance helps support better public funding, fosters accountability in revenue collection, and aligns Nigeria with international tax administration best practices.
If you’re an individual taxpayer who hasn’t yet begun the process, now is the time to act to avoid compliance issues and contribute to national development through proper tax reporting.
