FCT residents have until March 31 to file 2025 tax returns — IRS

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has urged all taxable residents within the Federal Capital Territory to submit their personal income tax returns on or before March 31, 2026.

The directive applies to individuals in paid employment, elected and appointed public office holders, self-employed persons, and business owners operating in the FCT.

In a statement released on Monday by the Head of Corporate Communications, Mustapha Sumaila, the agency said every taxable person in the territory is required to declare income earned from all sources for the 2025 tax year. This includes details of deductions and any other relevant information as stipulated by law.

The filing obligation covers employees under the Pay As You Earn scheme, professionals, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and workers in the informal sector.

The statement noted that the directive aligns with Section 24(f) of the 1999 Constitution, Sections 13 and 14(3) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Section 24 of the FCT-IRS Act 2015, and Paragraph 11 of the 2026 Personal Income Tax Guidelines issued by the Joint Revenue Board.

“The above law and guidelines require every individual with taxable income [must] submit a true and correct return of total income from all sources for the preceding year (January 1st to December 31st, 2025) within 90 days of commencement of the 2026 assessment year.”

Taxpayers are advised to complete their filings online through the FCT-IRS self-service portal at www.taxporta.fctirs.gov.ng or visit any FCT-IRS office to obtain and submit the necessary forms.

The agency cautioned that failure to meet the March 31 deadline may attract penalties, including “issuing a best of judgment assessment on defaulters, imposing penalties and interest and other civil and criminal sanctions in line with the provisions of the law.”

Speaking at the recently concluded FCT-IRS Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum, Acting Executive Chairman, Michael Ango, emphasised the need for voluntary compliance.

He said prompt registration, filing, and payment of taxes remain essential to driving growth and development in the FCT, enabling the government to deliver security, infrastructure, social services, and other public goods.

Ango added that tax revenues support the construction of roads, renovation and building of schools and hospitals, as well as the execution of other key development projects.

The Federal Government began implementing the new tax framework on January 1, 2026, with the enforcement of four major legislations: the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025.

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