(By Nchetachi Chukwuajah): The March 31 deadline for filing their 2025 personal income tax (PIT) has sent Nigerians into a state of panic, as many express ignorance of how the process works amid looming penalties for defaulting.
Conversations around the tax filing deadline dominated conversations surrounding the personal income tax at the weekend across several social media platforms, following a tweet by @yinkanubi on Friday, March 27, which has now gone viral.
The tweet read, “This is a reminder that if you fail to file your personal income tax by the 31st of March 2026, you will be immediately owing the state you’re resident in N100,000 for April 2026 and N50,000 for every month in default as a penalty for non-compliance. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
While some Nigerians say they do not know how to go about the personal income tax filing process or who it applies to, others wonder if the law applies to the 2025 tax year, given that the new tax law requiring Nigerians to file their PIT became effective from January 1, 2026.
@Qu_Estique tweeted, “This personal income tax filing thing is giving me headache, Oh Lord!!!!”
@iam_Tokzz wrote, “Don’t worry or stress about the personal income tax filing deadline that expires on March 31 and may attract penalties. This particular filing falls under the old tax laws, and your employer will handle it. You will begin filing your own tax for this year next year. So, there’s no need to worry.”
@Iykeabani said, “They better start converting government-owned schools and secretariats to prison because they will run out of space to put people.”
@Omni_YSR tweeted, “People still earn 40/50k as salary. Watin them wan file way bank never use VAT collect finish? Una never serious sha.”
Recall that Nigeria’s new tax laws became effective on January 1, 2026, and aim to overhaul the tax system to focus on efficiency, fairness, and boosting small businesses.
Under the new laws, individuals earning N800,000 or less per annum are exempt from paying taxes, while higher income earners face a rate of up to 25 percent.
Also, the laws provide that companies with annual turnover of below N50 million are exempt from Corporate Income Tax (CIT), the retention of Value Added Tax (VAT) at 7.5 percent and formalise a zero percent VAT on essential items, such as food, healthcare, and education, and a 20 percent tax deduction on annual rent for individuals for up to N500,000.
Recall also that on the issue of the deadline for filing taxes, Taiwo Oyedele, the former Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, warned that all Nigerians are legally required to file annual tax returns by March 31, regardless of their income level or whether Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) deductions have already been made.
During a webinar session organised in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) in January 2026, Oyedele explained that employers are statutorily mandated to file annual tax returns on behalf of their employees, including projections of staff remuneration for the year.
The fiscal policy expert also debunked the common assumption that employees whose taxes are deducted through PAYE are exempt from filing personal income tax returns.
He stressed that the obligation applies to all taxpayers, including low-income earners, while assuring that tax authorities are working to simplify the process.
As the heated debate persisted at the weekend, many tax and finance experts weighed in on the issue, urging Nigerians to file their taxes before the deadline.
One of such experts, @FinPlanKaluAja1, tweeted, “The tax filing date remains unchanged; you must file within 90 days from the start of each assessment year, which is around 30th March each tax year.
“The N100,000 plus N50,000 per month mentioned is the penalty for not filing FROM 2027, when you should have filed taxes for 2026.
“For 2025. Penalties for 2025 not filing are approximately N5,000 plus N100 per day. Once again, EVERYONE MUST FILE a personal tax return, regardless of your income or whether you have paid taxes through your employer or by other means.”
Also, @Emediong TG wrote, “The new 2026 tax law is not a joke. Filing is not just about paying; it’s about avoiding that 100k penalty. Even if PAYE was deducted, you must file. Don’t let laziness cost you 100k. Just do it online before the deadline; it’s safer.”
@Upendypabloo said, “Maybe na this tax filing threats go finally liberate this country. Make poor people pay 100k because dem no file tax. Oya naw, we dey wait.”
