Before we start… Lagos State Government has extended the tax filing deadline to April 14, 2026. So if you were rushing before, relax… But don’t delay again ooh, use this extra time wisely. Let Me Explain.. Imagine Mama Ngozi sells tomatoes in Lagos. One day she hears: “Tax deadline is here ooh!, It'Read more
Before we start…
Lagos State Government has extended the tax filing deadline to April 14, 2026.
So if you were rushing before, relax…
But don’t delay again ooh, use this extra time wisely.
Let Me Explain..
Imagine Mama Ngozi sells tomatoes in Lagos.
One day she hears:
“Tax deadline is here ooh!, It’s on the 31st of March ooh!”
She panics:
“Ah! I don’t understand this thing o…”
If you feel like Mama Ngozi, relax.
As your Financial Literacy Advocate, I will break it down step by step.
First… What Exactly are You Are Filing?
You are NOT filing 2026 tax.
You are declaring the money you earned from:
January – December 2025
That is what Lagos State wants.
Here’s a Step by Step Process to File your Personal Income Tax Annual Returned in Lagos
STEP 1: Get Your TIN (Tax Identification Number)
Go to Google and search:
Tax Identification Number in Nigeria
Open the Nigeria Revenue Service official portal: taxid.nrs.gov.ng
Enter your NIN
Enter your Date of Birth
Generate your TIN
This is your tax identity. Keep it safe.
STEP 2: Create Your Lagos Tax Account (LIRS)
Go to: etax.lirs.net
Create an account using:
Your BVN (recommended)
Your personal details
Then generate your:
Lagos Payer ID
Note:
Individuals = starts with N-
Companies = starts with C-
STEP 3: Login to Your Dashboard
Use:
Your newly created Payer ID
Your Password
STEP 4: File Your Annual Return
Click:
“File Annual Return”
VERY IMPORTANT (This is Where Many People Make Mistake)
If you earn:
₦100,000 per month
Do NOT enter ₦100,000.
Multiply it:
₦100,000 × 12 = ₦1,200,000
That is your annual income.
This applies to Salary Earners and Business Owners, including Freelancers or Content Creators… You are to pay from your Net Income.
STEP 5: Add Other Income (If Any)
You may see:
Rent
Business income
Dividends
If you have them, include them
If not, skip
STEP 6: Add Tax Relief (Very Important)
You may see:
Pension
Insurance
Mortgage
Add them if you have them
This will reduce your tax
STEP 7: Submit
After filling everything:
Click Submit
The system will calculate your tax automatically.
Here’s the Secret Many People Don’t Know
If your income is small…
You may pay:
Zero tax
But… if you don’t file at all…
You will pay penalty of ₦100,000 and a subsequent ₦50,000 for each of the following Month until you file your Annual Returned.
Now that deadline has been extended to: April 14, 2026
Don’t say:
“I will do it later…”
Do it now.
IN SIMPLE SUMMARY:
Get your TIN
Create your LIRS account
Calculate your annual income
Submit your return
That’s all.
The problem is not tax…
The problem is lack of understanding
Once you understand it…
Everything becomes simple.
If you still have questions…
Ask here on Fokona
That is why this platform exists..
To make money, tax, and investing simple for everyone.
How you pay tax depends on how you earn your income. Yes. Not everyone pays tax the same way. 1. If You Are a Salary Earner (PAYE) This is the most common. PAYE means: 👉 Pay As You Earn In this case: • your employer deducts tax from your salary • they remit it to the government Through your State InRead more
How you pay tax depends on how you earn your income.
Yes.
Not everyone pays tax the same way.
1. If You Are a Salary Earner (PAYE)
This is the most common.
PAYE means:
👉 Pay As You Earn
In this case:
• your employer deducts tax from your salary
• they remit it to the government
Through your State Internal Revenue Service
(e.g., Lagos State Internal Revenue Service if you work in Lagos)
So for you:
✓ you don’t pay manually
✓ it is done monthly automatically
2. If You Are Self-Employed / Business Owner
This is different.
You are responsible for your own tax.
How You Pay
You can pay through:
Option A: Online
Via your state tax portal
(e.g., Lagos State Internal Revenue Service website)
Option B: Bank Payment
You can:
• generate a tax assessment
• pay through designated banks
3. Is It Monthly or Yearly?
For Salary Earners:
✓ Paid monthly (automatically deducted)
For Self-Employed:
✓ File returns once a year
Deadline is usually:
👉 March 31st every year
4. What Is the Process Like? (Self-Employed)
Step 1: Register for Tax (Get TIN)
With:
👉 Federal Inland Revenue Service
or your state tax office
Step 2: File Annual Tax Return
You declare:
• your total income for the year
• your expenses (where applicable)
Step 3: Get Tax Assessment
Government calculates how much you should pay.
Step 4: Make Payment
You can:
• pay online
• or through bank
Step 5: Collect Receipt / Clearance
This proves you are tax compliant.
Let Me Be Honest With You
Many people ignore tax because:
• they don’t understand it
• they think it’s complicated
But it becomes simple once you know your category.
Final Truth
👉 Salary earners: tax is deducted monthly
👉 Self-employed: you file and pay yearly
Let Me Leave You With This
Tax is not just an obligation.
It is part of your financial identity.
So ask yourself:
• Am I compliant?
• Do I understand how my income is taxed?
Who Must File VAT You must file VAT if: You run a registered business (individual or company) You sell goods/services subject to VAT (7.5%) Even if: 👉 You made no sales, you must still file “NIL return” 2. What You Should Do Right Now (2024 & 2025 Backlog) Since you haven’t filed: 👉 You likely hRead more
Who Must File VAT
You must file VAT if:
You run a registered business (individual or company)
You sell goods/services subject to VAT (7.5%)
Even if: 👉 You made no sales, you must still file “NIL return”
2. What You Should Do Right Now (2024 & 2025 Backlog)
Since you haven’t filed:
👉 You likely have outstanding monthly VAT returns
For example:
2024 → 12 months
2025 → Jan till now
3. Step-by-Step: How to File VAT in Nigeria
You file through the tax authority:
👉 Federal Inland Revenue Service
Step 1: Get Your TIN
You need:
Tax Identification Number (TIN)
If you don’t have one:
Register via FIRS or CAC
Step 2: Access the Filing Portal
Use: 👉 TaxPro Max
This is the official system for VAT filing.
Step 3: Prepare Your Records
For each month, calculate:
Output VAT (what you charged customers)
7.5% of your sales
Input VAT (what you paid on purchases)
VAT on expenses
VAT Payable:
👉 Output VAT – Input VAT
Step 4: File Monthly Returns
On TaxPro Max:
Select month (e.g., Jan 2024)
Enter:
Sales
VAT collected
VAT paid
Submit return
Step 5: Pay (If Applicable)
If VAT is payable:
Generate payment reference
Pay via bank or online
4. Penalties You May Face
Since you didn’t file on time:
Late Filing Penalty:
₦50,000 (first month)
₦25,000 for each additional month
Late Payment:
Interest + penalties
5. What If You Didn’t Do Any Business?
Very important:
👉 You STILL must file
Just file:
NIL VAT return
This avoids penalties.
6. Best Practical Approach (Since You’re a Beginner)
How to Declare Your Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Nigeria is very Simple. Let me break this down in a way that even Mama Ngozi that sells Tomatoes in the Village will understand. First.... What is Personal Income Tax (PIT)? Personal Income Tax is simply: The tax you pay on the money you earn (salary,Read more
How to Declare Your Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Nigeria is very Simple.
Let me break this down in a way that even Mama Ngozi that sells Tomatoes in the Village will understand.
First….
What is Personal Income Tax (PIT)?
Personal Income Tax is simply:
The tax you pay on the money you earn (salary, business income, side hustle, etc.)
Let me explain this better with a Simple Story…
Imagine Mama Ngozi sells tomatoes in the village.
At the end of the year, she calculates:
• how much she made
• how much she spent
• how much profit is left
The government now says: “From your profit, you need to pay a small part as tax.”
Tax Deadline Is March 31 – How Can I File My Personal Income Tax in Lagos Nigeria Easily?
Before we start… Lagos State Government has extended the tax filing deadline to April 14, 2026. So if you were rushing before, relax… But don’t delay again ooh, use this extra time wisely. Let Me Explain.. Imagine Mama Ngozi sells tomatoes in Lagos. One day she hears: “Tax deadline is here ooh!, It'Read more
Before we start…
Lagos State Government has extended the tax filing deadline to April 14, 2026.
So if you were rushing before, relax…
But don’t delay again ooh, use this extra time wisely.
Let Me Explain..
Imagine Mama Ngozi sells tomatoes in Lagos.
One day she hears:
She panics:
If you feel like Mama Ngozi, relax.
As your Financial Literacy Advocate, I will break it down step by step.
First… What Exactly are You Are Filing?
You are NOT filing 2026 tax.
You are declaring the money you earned from:
January – December 2025
That is what Lagos State wants.
Here’s a Step by Step Process to File your Personal Income Tax Annual Returned in Lagos
STEP 1: Get Your TIN (Tax Identification Number)
Go to Google and search:
Tax Identification Number in Nigeria
Open the Nigeria Revenue Service official portal: taxid.nrs.gov.ng
Enter your NIN
Enter your Date of Birth
Generate your TIN
This is your tax identity. Keep it safe.
STEP 2: Create Your Lagos Tax Account (LIRS)
Go to: etax.lirs.net
Create an account using:
Your BVN (recommended)
Your personal details
Then generate your:
Lagos Payer ID
Note:
Individuals = starts with N-
Companies = starts with C-
STEP 3: Login to Your Dashboard
Use:
Your newly created Payer ID
Your Password
STEP 4: File Your Annual Return
Click:
“File Annual Return”
VERY IMPORTANT (This is Where Many People Make Mistake)
If you earn:
₦100,000 per month
Do NOT enter ₦100,000.
Multiply it:
₦100,000 × 12 = ₦1,200,000
That is your annual income.
This applies to Salary Earners and Business Owners, including Freelancers or Content Creators… You are to pay from your Net Income.
STEP 5: Add Other Income (If Any)
You may see:
Rent
Business income
Dividends
If you have them, include them
If not, skip
STEP 6: Add Tax Relief (Very Important)
You may see:
Pension
Insurance
Mortgage
Add them if you have them
This will reduce your tax
STEP 7: Submit
After filling everything:
Click Submit
The system will calculate your tax automatically.
Here’s the Secret Many People Don’t Know
If your income is small…
You may pay:
Zero tax
But… if you don’t file at all…
You will pay penalty of ₦100,000 and a subsequent ₦50,000 for each of the following Month until you file your Annual Returned.
Now that deadline has been extended to: April 14, 2026
Don’t say:
Do it now.
IN SIMPLE SUMMARY:
Get your TIN
Create your LIRS account
Calculate your annual income
Submit your return
That’s all.
The problem is not tax…
The problem is lack of understanding
Once you understand it…
Everything becomes simple.
If you still have questions…
Ask here on Fokona
That is why this platform exists..
To make money, tax, and investing simple for everyone.
See lessHow Do You Pay Personal Income Tax in Nigeria, and Is It Monthly or Annually?
How you pay tax depends on how you earn your income. Yes. Not everyone pays tax the same way. 1. If You Are a Salary Earner (PAYE) This is the most common. PAYE means: 👉 Pay As You Earn In this case: • your employer deducts tax from your salary • they remit it to the government Through your State InRead more
How you pay tax depends on how you earn your income.
Yes.
Not everyone pays tax the same way.
1. If You Are a Salary Earner (PAYE)
This is the most common.
PAYE means:
👉 Pay As You Earn
In this case:
• your employer deducts tax from your salary
• they remit it to the government
Through your State Internal Revenue Service
(e.g., Lagos State Internal Revenue Service if you work in Lagos)
So for you:
✓ you don’t pay manually
✓ it is done monthly automatically
2. If You Are Self-Employed / Business Owner
This is different.
You are responsible for your own tax.
How You Pay
You can pay through:
Option A: Online
Via your state tax portal
(e.g., Lagos State Internal Revenue Service website)
Option B: Bank Payment
You can:
• generate a tax assessment
• pay through designated banks
3. Is It Monthly or Yearly?
For Salary Earners:
✓ Paid monthly (automatically deducted)
For Self-Employed:
✓ File returns once a year
Deadline is usually:
👉 March 31st every year
4. What Is the Process Like? (Self-Employed)
Step 1: Register for Tax (Get TIN)
With:
👉 Federal Inland Revenue Service
or your state tax office
Step 2: File Annual Tax Return
You declare:
• your total income for the year
• your expenses (where applicable)
Step 3: Get Tax Assessment
Government calculates how much you should pay.
Step 4: Make Payment
You can:
• pay online
• or through bank
Step 5: Collect Receipt / Clearance
This proves you are tax compliant.
Let Me Be Honest With You
Many people ignore tax because:
• they don’t understand it
• they think it’s complicated
But it becomes simple once you know your category.
Final Truth
👉 Salary earners: tax is deducted monthly
👉 Self-employed: you file and pay yearly
Let Me Leave You With This
Tax is not just an obligation.
It is part of your financial identity.
So ask yourself:
• Am I compliant?
• Do I understand how my income is taxed?
Because in today’s system…
✓ proper tax record affects:
• loans
• investments
• financial opportunities
Rose Ejituru
See lessHow Can I Avoid Double Taxation When Filing Business Income and Stock Investment Gains in Nigeria?
Who Must File VAT You must file VAT if: You run a registered business (individual or company) You sell goods/services subject to VAT (7.5%) Even if: 👉 You made no sales, you must still file “NIL return” 2. What You Should Do Right Now (2024 & 2025 Backlog) Since you haven’t filed: 👉 You likely hRead more
Who Must File VAT
You must file VAT if:
You run a registered business (individual or company)
You sell goods/services subject to VAT (7.5%)
Even if: 👉 You made no sales, you must still file “NIL return”
2. What You Should Do Right Now (2024 & 2025 Backlog)
Since you haven’t filed:
👉 You likely have outstanding monthly VAT returns
For example:
2024 → 12 months
2025 → Jan till now
3. Step-by-Step: How to File VAT in Nigeria
You file through the tax authority:
👉 Federal Inland Revenue Service
Step 1: Get Your TIN
You need:
Tax Identification Number (TIN)
If you don’t have one:
Register via FIRS or CAC
Step 2: Access the Filing Portal
Use: 👉 TaxPro Max
This is the official system for VAT filing.
Step 3: Prepare Your Records
For each month, calculate:
Output VAT (what you charged customers)
7.5% of your sales
Input VAT (what you paid on purchases)
VAT on expenses
VAT Payable:
👉 Output VAT – Input VAT
Step 4: File Monthly Returns
On TaxPro Max:
Select month (e.g., Jan 2024)
Enter:
Sales
VAT collected
VAT paid
Submit return
Step 5: Pay (If Applicable)
If VAT is payable:
Generate payment reference
Pay via bank or online
4. Penalties You May Face
Since you didn’t file on time:
Late Filing Penalty:
₦50,000 (first month)
₦25,000 for each additional month
Late Payment:
Interest + penalties
5. What If You Didn’t Do Any Business?
Very important:
👉 You STILL must file
Just file:
NIL VAT return
This avoids penalties.
6. Best Practical Approach (Since You’re a Beginner)
Don’t try to fix everything blindly.
Option A (Recommended)
👉 Meet a tax consultant/accountant
They will:
Compute your backlog
File correctly
Reduce errors/penalties
Option B (Do It Yourself – Carefully)
Start with:
2025 (current year)
Then go back to 2024
7. Simple Example
If in January:
Sales = ₦500,000
VAT (7.5%) = ₦37,500
Expenses VAT = ₦10,000
👉 Pay: ₦37,500 – ₦10,000 = ₦27,500
8. Critical Advice (Don’t Ignore This)
Don’t guess figures
Don’t skip months
Don’t ignore penalties (they accumulate)
👉 The earlier you regularize, the cheaper it is.
Bottom Line
VAT is monthly, not yearly
You likely have multiple unfiled months
Use TaxPro Max to file
Consider a professional to clean it up
See lessHow Do I Declare and File Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Nigeria Before the Deadline?
How to Declare Your Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Nigeria is very Simple. Let me break this down in a way that even Mama Ngozi that sells Tomatoes in the Village will understand. First.... What is Personal Income Tax (PIT)? Personal Income Tax is simply: The tax you pay on the money you earn (salary,Read more
How to Declare Your Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Nigeria is very Simple.
Let me break this down in a way that even Mama Ngozi that sells Tomatoes in the Village will understand.
First….
What is Personal Income Tax (PIT)?
Personal Income Tax is simply:
The tax you pay on the money you earn (salary, business income, side hustle, etc.)
Let me explain this better with a Simple Story…
Imagine Mama Ngozi sells tomatoes in the village.
At the end of the year, she calculates:
• how much she made
• how much she spent
• how much profit is left
The government now says: “From your profit, you need to pay a small part as tax.”
That is exactly what Personal Income Tax means.
Who Should Declare PIT?
You must declare if you are:
• a salary earner
• self-employed (business owner, trader, freelancer)
• earning any form of income
Steps by Steps to Declare Your Personal Income Tax in Nigeria:
1: Determine Your Tax Authority
If you are employed, your employer handles it (PAYE)
If self-employed, you file it yourself with your State Internal Revenue Service
2: Get Your TIN (Tax Identification Number)
This is your tax ID
You can get it from your State Tax Office or online by visiting the Tax ID Retrieval Portal by Nigeria Revenue Service
3: Prepare Your Income Details
Gather:
• salary or business income
• other income sources
• expenses (if applicable)
4: Fill Your Tax Return Form
This can be done:
• online (in some states like Lagos)
• or physically at the tax office
5: Submit Before Deadline
In Nigeria, deadline is usually March 31st every year
6: Pay Any Tax Due
If you owe tax, make payment
If already deducted (PAYE), just file your return
Let me tell you something very important that Many People Don’t Know
Even if you have no income or very small income…
You are still expected to file a return
YES…
And Failure to do so can lead to:
• penalties
• future financial issues
So… Please Don’t wait till deadline.
Start now, even if it’s simple.
Because tax is not just a legal obligation…
It is part of being financially responsible
See less