The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may soon assist residents in filing their tax returns as part of ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Executive Chairman of LIRS, Ayodele Subair, made the disclosure during a webinar organized by the Fintech Association of Nigeria on Tuesday.
Themed “Fintech in Nigeria 2026: Navigating the New Tax Regime,” the event explored how technology is reshaping tax administration and compliance in the fintech era.
Subair stated that the future of tax administration lies in intelligent automation and technology-driven processes.
“It is a strong possibility that AI agents will assist taxpayers in filing their returns in the future,” he said.
He highlighted LIRS’s shift from a paper-based system to a fully digital, cloud-powered platform called e-Tax.
“With e-Tax, taxpayers can log in from the comfort of their homes and carry out all their tax transactions. It has significantly improved our efficiency,” Subair explained.
The chairman emphasized that these digital reforms strengthen the fiscal social contract between government and citizens.
“Government provides infrastructure and services, while citizens pay taxes honestly. Together, we build a civil society,” he said.
Subair linked improved tax compliance and digital efficiency to tangible infrastructure gains across Lagos State. He noted that revenues are being channeled into transportation, healthcare, education, and other essential public services.
Under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda, tax funds have supported multimodal transportation projects, including rail development, BRT expansion, and ferry services.
“These projects reduce congestion, improve productivity, and make life easier for Lagosians. They are possible because people pay their taxes,” he said.
He added that tax revenues also finance road construction, schools, healthcare facilities, and environmental management initiatives.
“Simply pay your taxes. If everyone plays their part, we can build the Lagos of our dreams,” Subair urged.
The announcement underscores LIRS’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies like AI to make tax compliance simpler, more accessible, and more efficient—while reinforcing the direct connection between citizen contributions and visible improvements in quality of life across Africa’s most populous city.
