The Federal Government has rolled out comprehensive guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, paving the way for a smooth transition from the old tax regime to Nigeria’s new tax framework scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
The guidelines, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, provide clear direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue agencies and other stakeholders on how to handle tax obligations, assessments and transactions during the transition period.
In a statement signed by the Head, Information and Public Relations Unit of the ministry, Efe Ovuakporie, the government explained that the new framework covers the implementation of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.
According to the ministry, while each law will take effect on its legally prescribed commencement date, the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 will officially become operational on January 1, 2026.
The guidelines clarify that all tax liabilities, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the repealed tax laws.
Similarly, tax returns for accounting periods ending before the commencement date will be filed under the old tax regime, while returns due from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new tax framework.
The document also provides guidance on income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping requirements and transactions that cut across both the old and new tax systems.
The Federal Government further assured businesses and investors that existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws would remain valid until their expiration dates.
However, fresh applications and pending requests for incentives will be processed under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
Speaking on the release of the guidelines, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said the document was designed to ensure certainty and fairness during the transition period.
He stressed that the guidelines would prevent retrospective application of the new laws while providing a clear framework for handling existing obligations and future transactions.
According to Oyedele, the Tax Acts 2025 represent a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform agenda aimed at simplifying tax administration and improving compliance.
“The Guidelines provide a framework for managing transitional issues while ensuring that the new laws are not applied retrospectively,” he said.
The minister noted that the transition framework is built on three key pillars — clarity, fairness and administrative certainty.
He added that the guidelines are expected to promote 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 building a transparent, efficient and modern tax system capable of supporting economic growth, strengthening revenue generation, encouraging voluntary compliance and improving Nigeria’s investment climate.
With the new framework now in place, businesses and taxpayers have been urged to familiarise themselves with the provisions ahead of the January 2026 commencement date.
