The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has urged residents in the territory to file their annual income returns before the deadline of March 31.

The Head of Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Sumaila said that filing annual returns of income from all sources was mandatory for all taxpayers, including those in employment (private and public sector) and public office holders.

He said that those in self-employment, including business owners and partnerships/enterprises, residents of the FCT for the preceding year, 2024, were also required to file the returns.

He said, “The returns must be filed in the manner and within the time specified by law. The Personal Income Tax Act provides that a taxable person shall file a return of income in the prescribed form and containing the prescribed information with the tax authority. This is to be filed with a true and correct statement in writing containing the amount of income earned by the taxpayer from every source of the year preceding the year of assessment.’’

According to Mr Sumaila, failure to file the returns by March 31 will result in FCT-IRS issuing a judgement assessment on all defaulters.

He said that they would be required to pay in line with the provisions of Section 54(3) of the Personal Income Tax Act.

Mr Sumaila said that the Acting Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, had been leading the campaign for voluntary tax compliance by all residents of the FCT. 

(NAN)