The Federal Government has released a comprehensive set of guidelines to facilitate Nigeria’s transition to a new tax regime, providing clarity for taxpayers, revenue agencies, tax consultants, businesses and other stakeholders ahead of the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025.
The guidelines, unveiled by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, outline how existing tax obligations, ongoing audits, pending disputes, tax incentives and overlapping transactions will be handled during the transition period.
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the framework was designed to ensure a seamless transition while reducing uncertainty for both taxpayers and tax authorities.
According to Oyedele, the guidelines are built around three core principles: clarity, fairness and administrative certainty.
He explained that all tax liabilities and obligations relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the existing tax laws, even after the new regime takes effect.
“Assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to the period before the new regime takes effect will continue to be administered under the repealed laws,” he stated.
The minister further clarified that tax returns covering accounting periods ending before January 2026 will be filed under the current tax framework, while all returns due from January 1, 2026, onward will be processed under the new legal structure.
The Tax Acts 2025 form the foundation of Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform programme and comprise four major laws: the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.
To provide certainty for businesses, the guidelines state that all tax exemptions and incentives granted under the previous laws will remain valid until their approved expiration dates.
However, pending applications and all new requests for tax incentives will be evaluated under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
The framework also provides guidance on the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies and record-keeping obligations during the transition period.
The government said the measures are intended to support compliance, protect existing rights and obligations, and ensure a smooth implementation of the new tax regime without disrupting economic activities.
