FCT-IRS Urges Taxpayers to Meet March 31 Deadline

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has urged taxable residents to file their personal income tax returns by March 31, 2026. This directive applies to individuals, public office holders, self-employed persons, and business owners, as stated in a press release on Monday by Mustapha Sumaila, head of corporate communications.

Taxpayers are required to declare their income sources for the 2025 tax year, including necessary deductions. The FCT-IRS emphasizes that every individual with taxable income must submit a true and correct return covering the previous year, from January 1 to December 31, 2025, within 90 days of the commencement of the 2026 assessment year.

Michael Ango, the executive chairman of FCT-IRS, highlighted the importance of voluntary compliance during a recent stakeholder engagement forum. He noted that failure to meet the March 31 deadline could lead to sanctions, including penalties and civil or criminal actions.

The new tax regime, which began enforcement on January 1, 2026, includes four major laws aimed at improving tax administration in Nigeria.