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The Federal Capital Territory Inland Revenue Services says it has generated N43.8bn in taxes for January 2025, describing the development as a “very strong” start for the year.
The Acting Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Ango Abdullahi stated this on Thursday while addressing the press during a tax sensitization event in Abuja.
Abdullahi said the IRS had generated N262bn in 2024, surpassing its target of N250bn.
He commended some employers for filing their annual returns by the given January 30 deadline, while encouraging employees and residents to file their individual annual returns before the March 1st 2025 deadline.
“The last time I spoke to the press, we had given you an overview of what our collection was at that time. The year had not ended. At the end of the year, we collected a total amount of 262 billion Naira, as against a target of 250 billion. While this was good, we believe that it can be better. 2025, we have also started very strong. In January, we collected 43.8 billion Naira. And so far, in February, we are also on track. But you see, the reality about these things is that these monies are not manufactured. They are paid from the taxpayers and the residents of this town.
“The first filing deadline for the year was January 31, 2025, where the employers’ annual return was due. And I must say to you that we got very significant numbers of persons who filed. And we are in the process of commending every single company that filed their annual returns, their employer annual returns. We are going to write them a letter and commend them. And for those who did not file, we are also going to write them a letter, but this is not a letter of commendation. We are going to be sending out penalties for non-compliance, and then giving them a chance to comply.
“We have another deadline coming up in another 30 days or so, which is the individual annual returns. The law mandates every person, whether in employment or not, to file their annual income tax returns by the 31st of March, every year. And this is one of the things that we hope this roadshow will be able to achieve.”, he said.
The Chairman also outlined the various taxes collected in the FCT, noting that the aim was to create a tax ecosystem, where everyone was a partner in the development of the FCT. Abdullahi also disclosed that the FCT-IRS will set up kiosk offices across major plazas and markets in the FCT to facilitate easy filing and collection of taxes.
“We know that one of the taxpayers’ complaints is that they do not feel the presence, or they cannot see what their revenue or taxes are used for. Although I must say that in the case of the FCT, that may not be very valid, because I believe that wherever you stay in the FCT, you will have seen at least some presence of the FCT administration within your own area. Whether in terms of roads, whether in terms of streetlights that are being put out, in terms of construction, you would have seen it.
“And a lot of work is being done. Some of it may not be evident at this time, but I want to assure you that when all of this is done, you all will have a city to be proud of. But there are also responsibilities from your end. And when I say your, I mean the general public. We expect those of you who are not registered to come and register with us. We have 16 tax offices spread out across the entire city—the entire FCT.
“We will also be expanding into some of the areas where we do not currently have offices. We are going to be setting up, like I said, kiosk offices in the major plazas and markets within the city. We are going to be partnering with the market associations. We are going to be partnering with the informal sector. We are going to be partnering with the area councils. At the end of the day, we want to work together as one big family to ensure that the Abuja that we all dream of will be achieved.”
