Nigerian Youth's Tax Filing Frustration: Portal Glitches and Confusion Before Deadline
As the March 31st deadline for filing personal income tax returns looms, a young Nigerian woman has publicly voiced her struggles with the process, highlighting widespread issues with the official tax portal. In a TikTok video shared on March 30, 2026, the lady, identified as @tech_sis29, expressed confusion and exhaustion while attempting to navigate the system, citing technical glitches and inadequate support from authorities.
Technical Hurdles and Lack of Assistance
The woman detailed several roadblocks she encountered, including the inability to find her employer's name in the system. "I can’t find the company; the company is not there. I kept refreshing and I can’t find it," she lamented. Even as a freelancer, she found the system unfriendly, noting that forms require complex details like "net profit" which are difficult for the average young professional to calculate without guidance.
Another major frustration was the lack of human assistance and a non-responsive AI chatbot. "I'm really confused. And the chatbot on this website is not working. I sent a message previously and I've sent another message now, and it's not responding to me. Is there like a website or a video that we can watch to understand how to file this thing properly? Because me, I am confused," she said.
Fear of Fines and Call for Simplification
Compounding her frustration is the fear of fines for individuals who fail to file their tax returns by the end of March 2026. "I don't have any money to pay fine. That's why I'm doing it right now," she stated in desperation. She urged the Nigerian government to simplify the process, saying, "Dear Nigerian Government, life is already hard for Nigerian youths, and you're still saying we will pay a fine from March 31st if we don't file. We are already poor, can you let us breathe, please!!!!"
Public Reactions and Eligibility Criteria
The video sparked reactions from others facing similar challenges. Comments included:
- Endurance Henry: "I don give up me I can’t even retrieve my payer ID."
- Ipooladara: "Like it's so confusing."
- MATEEN: "The customer support works. You probably didn't check back."
This incident comes amid Nigeria's new tax law, which sets clear rules on tax residency. According to the regulations, an individual is considered a tax resident in Nigeria if any of the following apply during a tax year:
- They are domiciled in Nigeria.
- They maintain a permanent home for domestic use in Nigeria.
- They spend 183 days or more in Nigeria, including short leaves or temporary absences.
- They have substantial economic or immediate family ties in Nigeria.
- They serve as a Nigerian diplomat or public servant abroad.
The woman's experience underscores the need for improved user-friendly systems and better support mechanisms to assist young Nigerians in complying with tax obligations, especially as deadlines approach.
