The Federal Government has released transition guidelines to support the implementation of Nigeria’s new tax regime, providing clarity for taxpayers, revenue agencies, tax consultants and other stakeholders ahead of the reforms.
Issued by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, the guidelines outline how existing tax obligations, ongoing audits, pending disputes, tax incentives and transactions that span both the old and new systems will be handled during the transition period.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the framework was designed to ensure a seamless transition while minimizing uncertainty for taxpayers and tax authorities.
“The guidelines are anchored on three key principles clarity, fairness and administrative certainty,” Oyedele said.
According to the document, all tax liabilities and obligations relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the existing tax laws. Audits, investigations, assessments, disputes and enforcement actions linked to that period will also be conducted under the previous legal framework.
The guidelines further state that tax returns for accounting periods ending before January 2026 will be filed under the current laws, while returns due from January 1, 2026, onward will be subject to the new tax regime.
Oyedele noted that the Tax Acts 2025 comprise four major laws introduced under Nigeria’s tax reform programme: the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.
The government also assured businesses that existing tax exemptions and incentives granted under repealed laws will remain valid until their approved expiration dates, providing continuity and certainty for investors.
However, applications still under consideration, as well as new requests for tax incentives, will be evaluated under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
The guidelines also clarify the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies and record-keeping requirements, offering a framework for compliance as the country transitions to the new tax system.
