The Federal Government has unveiled comprehensive guidelines to facilitate Nigeria’s transition to a new tax regime under the recently enacted Tax Acts 2025.

Released by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, the guidelines are intended to assist taxpayers, revenue agencies, tax consultants, businesses, and other stakeholders in navigating the transition period and understanding their obligations under the new framework.

According to the government, the guidelines address critical issues relating to the implementation of the new tax laws, including existing tax liabilities, ongoing audits, pending disputes, tax incentives, and transactions that may span both the old and new tax systems.

Speaking on the development, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the framework was created to ensure a seamless transition while minimizing uncertainty for both taxpayers and tax authorities.

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

Oyedele explained that all tax obligations and liabilities relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the existing tax laws.

He added that assessments, audits, investigations, disputes, and enforcement actions connected to pre-2026 tax periods will also remain subject to the repealed legal framework.

Furthermore, tax returns covering accounting periods ending before January 2026 will be filed under the current laws, while returns due from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new regime.

The minister noted that the Tax Acts 2025 comprise four major pieces of legislation introduced as part of Nigeria’s broader tax reform programme:

Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act
Nigeria Tax Act
Nigeria Tax Administration Act
Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act

The guidelines also provide reassurance to businesses benefiting from existing tax incentives, stating that all exemptions and incentives granted under repealed laws will remain valid until their approved expiration dates.

However, applications still awaiting approval, as well as new requests for tax incentives, will be evaluated under the provisions of the new Tax Acts 2025.

In addition, the framework clarifies how income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, and record-keeping obligations will be treated during the transition period, providing businesses and individuals with greater certainty as the new tax system takes effect

FG Releases Guidelines for Transition to New Tax Regime

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