The Federal Government has unveiled transition guidelines to facilitate the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, providing clarity on how taxpayers, tax authorities and other stakeholders should handle obligations arising from the shift from the previous tax system to the new framework that became effective on January 1, 2026.
The guidelines were announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of the Information and Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the ministry, the document outlines procedures for dealing with tax liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement matters that relate to periods before and after the commencement of the new tax regime.
“The Federal Government has issued the General Guidelines for the Implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, setting out the process for transition from the repealed tax laws to the new tax framework effective from January 1, 2026,” the statement read.
The ministry explained that the Tax Acts 2025 consist of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act.
It noted that each law would take effect from its stipulated commencement date.
Under the transition arrangements, tax matters connected to periods before the new laws came into force—including liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement proceedings—will continue to be governed by the repealed tax legislation.
The guidelines also clarify that tax returns for accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, must be submitted under the old tax laws, while returns due from that date onward will be processed under the new framework.
In addition, the document provides guidance on the administration of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping requirements and transactions that span both the old and new tax systems.
The ministry stated that incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws would remain in force until their respective expiration dates.
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However, fresh applications and pending requests for incentives will be evaluated in line with the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
Commenting on the guidelines, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said they were developed to address transitional concerns while ensuring that the new tax laws are not applied retroactively.
According to the statement, Oyedele said, “The document provides a framework for managing transitional issues while ensuring that the new laws are not applied retrospectively.”
He described the Tax Acts 2025 as a major achievement in Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform efforts, adding that the guidelines clearly define how existing obligations, ongoing cases and future transactions will be handled under the new system.
Oyedele noted that the framework is built on three core principles: clarity, fairness and administrative certainty.
The ministry said the guidelines are intended to ensure consistent implementation across the Nigeria Revenue Service, state internal revenue services, the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, local government revenue committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.
It added that the government remains focused on developing a transparent, efficient and modern tax system that supports economic growth, strengthens revenue administration, promotes voluntary compliance and enhances Nigeria’s investment environment.
The issuance of the guidelines comes as authorities continue to roll out the Tax Acts 2025, a set of reforms that introduced significant changes to the country’s tax administration framework and are expected to transform tax collection and compliance processes nationwide.