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The Federal Government has issued guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, setting out the transition process from repealed tax laws to Nigeria’s new tax framework, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
The guidelines, released by the Federal Ministry of Finance, provide direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities and other stakeholders on how to address issues arising during the transition period.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Press Relations at the ministry, Mr Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the ministry, the Tax Acts 2025 comprise the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, all of which apply from their respective commencement dates as stipulated in the laws.
The ministry explained that tax liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before January 1, 2026, would continue to be treated under the repealed tax laws.
It added that tax returns relating to accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, would be filed under the previous tax laws, while returns due from January 1, 2026, onward would be administered under the new tax framework.
The guidelines also address the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping obligations and transactions spanning both the old and new tax regimes.
The ministry further stated that existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws would remain valid until their expiration dates, while new applications and pending requests would be considered under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
Speaking on the release of the guidelines, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the document provides a framework for addressing transitional issues while ensuring that the new tax laws are not applied retrospectively.
He described the Tax Acts 2025 as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s tax reform programme, noting that the guidelines clarify how existing obligations, ongoing matters and future transactions will be treated under the new regime.
Oyedele said the guidelines are anchored on three key principles of clarity, fairness and administrative certainty.
According to the ministry, the document is intended to promote uniform implementation and support effective tax administration across the Nigeria Revenue Service, state internal revenue services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, local government revenue committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, efficient and modern tax system that supports economic growth, strengthens revenue administration, encourages voluntary compliance and improves Nigeria’s investment climate.
Ovuakporie disclosed that the guidelines had been forwarded for gazetting to facilitate their official publication and implementation.
