Nigerians, Including Low-Income Earners, Must File Tax Returns — Oyedele

.... Warns Employers, Individuals on Mandatory Tax Returns Filing

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged Nigerians to comply with tax laws by filing their annual returns before the March 31 deadline, noting that the requirement applies to both employers and individual taxpayers.

Speaking at a webinar organised with the Joint Revenue Board, Oyedele said the law requires all taxpayers, employers, employees and low-income earners alike to submit annual tax returns, despite widespread non-compliance across the country.

The session, which examined compliance under Nigeria’s changing tax regime, was later shared on YouTube on Friday.

He explained that although some organisations have met their obligations, many are still behind in filing employee-related tax returns.

“As employers, you are required to file annual returns for your employees. Many of you have done so, but if you haven’t, you only have a few days left. These filings must include projections of what you intend to pay your staff,” he said.

Oyedele also stressed that individual taxpayers are legally required to submit self-assessment returns, describing compliance levels as worryingly low nationwide.

“This is one area where Nigeria has been largely non-compliant. In many states, more than 90 per cent sometimes even in the most sophisticated states cannot boast of up to 5 per cent compliance,” he noted.

Addressing common misconceptions, he clarified that employees are still obligated to file returns even if their taxes are deducted at source by their employers.

“Many people think that once their employer deducts tax, there’s nothing else to do. That is incorrect. Under both the old and new tax laws, employees must still file their returns,” he said.

He added that tax authorities are working to simplify the filing process and improve access across states.

“I’m confident that the tax authorities, the Joint Revenue Board, and state internal revenue services are taking steps to make filing easier. Everyone must file returns, including low-income earners, and this must be done by March 31 for the preceding fiscal year,” Oyedele said.

The committee chairman also revealed that recent tax reforms now mandate businesses benefiting from incentives to disclose them during the filing process.

“Under the new tax law, enterprises enjoying tax incentives are required to formally declare them when filing their returns or shortly afterwards,” he explained.

Oyedele urged Nigerians to take tax compliance seriously, stressing that improved filing rates are critical to fiscal transparency and the success of ongoing economic reforms.