Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory rushed on Monday to meet the deadline for filing their tax returns, but were met with delays and frustration as systems at key tax offices failed.

At the headquarters of the FCT Internal Revenue Service and its Lugbe Tax Office, several taxpayers who came to submit their returns were unable to do so electronically due to a system breakdown. Many of them were politely turned back, while others were given forms to fill out and return later.

A source within the agency told The Nation that the large number of residents trying to file their returns at the same time put pressure on the system, leading to its collapse.

“The system has been overwhelmed by residents who want to file their tax returns, which caused it to go down,” the source said.

The official added that the agency’s technical team was already working to restore the system and ensure that normal operations resume as soon as possible.

Despite the disruption, officials at the tax authority directed affected residents to visit any of their offices within Abuja to complete the filing process manually.

A director at the service also confirmed the situation, saying simply, “Our system is down.”

Tax officials further advised employees whose Personal Income Tax has already been deducted and remitted by their employers to come along with a letter showing their new Tax Identification Number when visiting the office. The letter, they said, should request details of their tax returns to help speed up the process.

The development caused delays for many residents who had hoped to complete their tax obligations before the deadline, raising concerns about a last-minute rush and the need for a possible extension of the tax return filing. (The Nation)