Federal Government of Nigeria has released implementation guidelines for the Tax Acts 2025, outlining how taxpayers and revenue authorities should navigate the transition from repealed tax laws to Nigeria’s new tax framework, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that the guidelines, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, provide direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities and other stakeholders on managing issues that may arise during the transition period.
The development was disclosed on Thursday in a statement signed by Efe Ovuakporie, Director of Press Relations at the ministry.
According to the statement, 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 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disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the repealed tax laws.
“Tax returns relating to accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, will be filed under the previous tax laws, while returns falling due from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new tax framework,” the statement said.
“The document also covers the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping obligations and transactions that span both the old and new tax regimes.”
The ministry further clarified that tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws will remain valid until their expiration dates. However, fresh applications and pending requests will be assessed under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
Speaking on the release of the guidelines, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the document provides a framework for resolving transitional issues while ensuring that the new tax laws are not applied retrospectively.
Oyedele described the Tax Acts 2025 as a major milestone in Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, noting that the guidelines clarify how existing obligations, ongoing matters and future transactions will be treated under the new regime.
“The guidelines are anchored on three key principles – clarity, fairness and administrative certainty,” the minister said.
According to the ministry, the guidelines are designed to ensure uniform implementation and support effective tax administration across the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), state internal revenue services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, local government revenue committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to building a transparent, efficient and modern tax system capable of supporting economic growth, strengthening revenue administration, encouraging voluntary compliance and improving Nigeria’s investment climate.
Ovuakporie also noted that the guidelines have been forwarded to the Federal Government Press for gazetting.
