Tax Acts 2025: Nigeria unveils transition guidelines for taxpayers, revenue agencies

THE Nigerian government has released implementation guidelines for the Tax Acts 2025, outlining how taxpayers and revenue authorities should transition from the repealed tax laws to Nigeria’s new tax regime, which became effective on January 1, 2026.

The guidelines, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, are designed to assist taxpayers, tax professionals, revenue agencies and other stakeholders in addressing issues that may arise during the shift to the new tax framework.

The development was announced on Thursday in a statement signed by Director of Press Relations at the ministry, Efe Ovuakporie.

According to the ministry, the Tax Acts 2025, which include the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, will take effect from the commencement dates specified in each law.

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The document clarifies that tax liabilities, audits, assessments, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the repealed tax laws.

It further states that tax returns for accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, must be filed under the previous legal framework, while returns due from January 1, 2026, onward will be processed under the new tax system.

The guidelines also address the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping requirements and transactions that span both the old and new tax regimes.

The ministry noted that incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws will remain in force until their expiry dates. However, pending applications and fresh requests will be considered in line with the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.

Speaking on the release of the document, Finance Minister, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said the guidelines provide a structured approach to resolving transitional issues while ensuring that the new tax laws are not applied retrospectively.

He described the Tax Acts 2025 as a major milestone in Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, adding that the guidelines offer clarity on how existing obligations, ongoing matters and future transactions will be handled under the new regime.

“The guidelines are anchored on three key principles – clarity, fairness and administrative certainty,” Oyedele said.

The ministry added that the document is intended to ensure uniform implementation across the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), state internal revenue services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, local government revenue committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.

Reaffirming its commitment to tax reform, the government said it remains focused on building a transparent, efficient and modern tax system capable of supporting economic growth, improving revenue administration, encouraging voluntary compliance and enhancing Nigeria’s investment climate.

In January, Oyedele had explained that the issuance of the implementation guidelines was delayed due to uncertainty surrounding the final gazetted version of the tax laws.