BY VICTORIA ONU, ABUJA
THE Federal Inland Revenue Service has granted a one-off one-month extension for the filing of Company Income Tax returns by taxpayers with December 31, 2020 accounting year-end, whose statutory tax returns were due not later than 30th June 2021.
This extension was contained in a Public Notice dated 30th June 2021 and signed by the FIRS Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami.
Nami said the extension was to provide an opportunity to all taxpayers whose Company Income Tax returns were due in June 2021 to file up to the 31st July 2021.
This extension, according to him, suspends the corresponding Late Returns Penalty and interest for late filing for the period of the extension, provided that the filing process is concluded on the FIRS TaxProMax Platform and the tax due is paid using the Payment Reference Number on or before 31st July 2021.
The extension, he noted, also provided an opportunity to taxpayers to upload all unused WHT credit notes into the TaxProMax not later than 31st July 2021.
Nami said, “This extension is to provide an opportunity to all taxpayers whose company Income Tax returns were due in June 2021 to file up to the 31st July 2021.
“This extension suspends corresponding Late Returns Penalty and interest for late filing for the period of the extension provided that the filing process is concluded on the FIRS TaxProMax Platform and the tax due is paid using the Payment Reference Number (PRN) on or before 31st July 2021.
“The extension also provides an opportunity to taxpayers to upload all unused WHT credit notes into the TaxProMax not later than 31st July 2021.”
The FIRS granted the 30-day extension as a result of glitches experienced on its recently deployed TaxProMax Platform Solution by some taxpayers while trying to complete their annual filing processes.
Nami added that the Service had taken note of the very good progress recorded in the implementation of the TaxProMax Solution, which was introduced for ease of tax compliance in fulfilling taxpayers’ obligations.
He expressed gratitude to the taxpayers and the general public for the encouraging acceptance of the Solution and the feedback.
He then pointed out that a Situation Room for resolving issues on a “real-time” basis for improved taxpayer experience of the Solution had been established.
Taxpayers and other stakeholders can make necessary enquiries from the Situation Room via email address: taxpromax.firs.gov.ng.
Nami added that in response to the challenges experienced by taxpayers, “the TaxProMax has been upgraded.”
The FIRS boss appreciated taxpayers and the general public for their continued cooperation in generating revenue for the development of the country.
