The Federal Government has released general guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, outlining the transition process from Nigeria’s repealed tax laws to the new tax framework scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The guidelines, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, provide clarity for taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities, and other stakeholders on how tax matters will be managed during the transition from the old regime to the new framework. This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Ministry’s Head of Information, Mrs. Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the document, the Tax Acts 2025 , comprising 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 their respective commencement dates as stipulated in the laws, with the Nigeria Tax Act becoming operational on January 1, 2026.
The guidelines state that tax liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes, and enforcement actions relating to periods before the commencement date will continue to be governed by the repealed tax laws.
Similarly, tax returns for accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, will be filed under the previous tax regime, while returns due from that date onward will be administered under the new tax framework.
The document also addresses 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 systems.
Existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws will remain valid until their expiration dates. However, pending applications and new requests for incentives will be considered under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
Commenting on the release of the guidelines, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said the document provides a clear framework for managing transitional issues while ensuring that the new tax laws are not applied retrospectively.
He described the Tax Acts 2025 as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, noting that the guidelines clarify how existing obligations, ongoing matters, and future transactions will be handled under the new system.
Oyedele said the guidelines are built on three core principles, clarity, fairness, and administrative certainty and are designed to ensure uniform implementation 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 establishing a transparent, efficient, and modern tax system that supports economic growth, strengthens revenue administration, promotes voluntary compliance, and enhances Nigeria’s investment climate.
