Nigerian Government Issues Guidelines for Transition to New Tax Regime

The Federal Government has issued guidelines to guide Nigeria’s shift to a new tax regime.

The Ministry of Finance released the guidelines on Thursday, aiming to assist taxpayers, revenue agencies, tax consultants and other stakeholders during the transition.

The framework tackles key issues related to the implementation of the new tax laws, especially those concerning existing tax obligations, ongoing audits, pending disputes, tax incentives and transactions that may overlap between the old and new regimes.

Speaking on the development, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele said the guidelines were crafted to ensure a smooth transition without creating uncertainty for taxpayers or revenue authorities.

“The Guidelines are anchored on three key principles — clarity, fairness and administrative certainty,” Oyedele said.

He explained that tax liabilities and obligations tied to periods before January 1, 2026 will remain governed by the old tax laws.

Assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to the period before the new regime takes effect will still be handled under the repealed legal framework.

The minister added that tax returns linked to accounting periods ending before January 2026 will be filed under the current laws, while all tax returns due from January 1, 2026 onward will fall under the new legal structure.

“The Tax Acts 2025 consist of four major laws introduced as part of Nigeria’s tax reform agenda. They include the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act,” he added.

According to the guidelines, all existing tax exemptions and incentives granted under repealed laws will remain valid until their expiration dates, providing stability and reducing concerns among businesses that secured approvals before the introduction of the new tax laws.

However, applications still under review, as well as new requests for tax incentives, will now be assessed under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.

The guidelines further clarify the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies and record‑keeping requirements during the transition period.