The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has granted individual taxpayers an extra month to file their annual income tax returns, pushing the deadline from March 31 to April 30, 2026.
The extension comes just days after the original statutory deadline passed, amid reports of technical glitches that left some taxpayers frustrated as they rushed to meet the cutoff. Acting Executive Chairman Mr. Michael Ango approved the one-month grace period to allow more people the chance to submit accurate and complete returns without undue pressure.
“The extension is intended to provide taxpayers with additional time to complete and submit accurate returns and improve overall compliance within the Federal Capital Territory,” Ango said in a statement issued on Tuesday and relayed through the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mustapha Samaila (also referred to as Mustapha Sumaila in some reports).
Ango stressed the broader importance of voluntary tax compliance, describing it as a cornerstone of national development. He urged individuals to take advantage of the additional window and file promptly via the official FCT-IRS portal, which the agency continues to promote as the secure and preferred channel for submissions.
Under Nigerian tax law, individuals with taxable income are generally required to file their Personal Income Tax (PIT) returns for the preceding year by March 31.
The FCT-IRS maintains that this statutory deadline remains in place each year, but it has exercised discretion to extend it in this instance — part of ongoing efforts to strengthen digital tax administration and make the process simpler and more taxpayer-friendly.
The decision comes at a time when many Abuja residents were still grappling with the filing process. Recent reports highlighted portal downtime and last-minute rushes that left some unable to submit on March 31, raising fears of penalties.
Similar extensions have been announced in other jurisdictions; for instance, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) recently moved its own deadline to April 14.
FCT-IRS officials are encouraging all taxable adults in the territory — including salary earners, professionals, business owners, and landlords — to log on to the FCT-IRS portal without further delay.
Accurate filing not only helps avoid potential sanctions but also contributes directly to funding critical infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other public services in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Voluntary compliance remains key to building a stronger economy,” Ango reiterated, positioning the extension as both a relief for taxpayers and a strategic step toward higher compliance rates.
Taxpayers who miss the new April 30 deadline could still face late-filing penalties, interest, or other enforcement measures under existing tax laws.
As the clock now ticks toward the end of April, the FCT-IRS is expected to ramp up awareness campaigns to ensure residents make full use of the reprieve.
For many in Abuja, the message is clear: you have been given extra time — use it wisely and file accurately through the official portal.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The FCT-IRS has extended the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns to April 30, 2026.
The Federal Capital Territory should know is this: you now have until April 30, 2026, to file your accurate returns through the official FCT-IRS portal to avoid penalties and support national development through voluntary compliance.
