File Annual Returns Before March 31st – FCT-IRS Urges Residents

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has urged residents to file their Annual Income Returns before the deadline of March 31st, 2025.

In a statement, the Service says that filing annual returns of income from all sources is mandatory for all taxpayers in the private and public sectors.

The statement also listed public office holders, elected and appointed,
those in self-employment, including business owners and partnerships/enterprises that are resident in the FCT for the preceding year 2024 to be filed within the time specified by law.

“The Personal Income Tax Act, provides that: For each year of assessment, a taxable person shall, without notice or demand therefore, file a return of income in the prescribed form containing the prescribed information with the tax authority of the State in which the taxable person is deemed to be a resident”.

The statement urges taxable residents to ensure they file their true and correct statement in writing containing the amount of income earned by the taxpayer from every source of the year preceding (2024) the year of assessment (2025) and other information that may be required by the law with respect to any such income, allowance, relief, deduction or otherwise as may be relevant for the purpose of the returns.”

“There is a strict deadline for filing the annual income returns, which is within ninety days from the commencement of every year of assessment, and this falls on 31st March 2025.”

The statement noted that failure to file the returns by 31st March, 2025, will result in FCT-IRS issuing a best of judgment assessment on all defaulters, which they would be required to pay in line with the provisions of Section 54(3) of the Personal Income Tax Act, along with other criminal and civil sanctions as prescribed by the law.

The Acting Executive Chairman, Mr Michael Ango, has been leading the campaign for voluntary tax compliance by all residents of the FCT. According to him, it is in the interest of taxpayers to comply voluntarily, as any default would be treated seriously.

Ango noted that given the efforts of the FCT administration under the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike to improve infrastructure and social services in the FCT, it is incumbent on all taxpayers to contribute to the continued development of the territory by paying their taxes and fling returns as required by law.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji