FG Releases Transition Guidelines for Implementation of New Tax Laws

The Federal Government has issued comprehensive guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, providing clarity on the transition from repealed tax laws to Nigeria’s new tax regime, which came into effect on January 1, 2026.

The guidelines, released by the Federal Ministry of Finance, outline procedures for taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities, and other stakeholders in managing issues arising from the transition to the new tax framework.

The development was announced on Thursday in a statement by Efe Ovuakporie, Director of Press Relations at the ministry.

According to the document, the Tax Acts 2025 comprise the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act. The laws will apply from their respective commencement dates as specified in the legislation.

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disputes, and enforcement actions relating to periods before January 1, 2026, will continue to be governed by the repealed tax laws.

It further stated that tax returns for accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, must be filed under the previous laws, while returns due from that date onward will be administered under the new tax framework.

The guidelines also address 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.

According to the ministry, existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under repealed laws will remain valid until their expiration dates. However, new applications and pending requests will be processed in line with the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.

Speaking on the release of the guidelines, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, , said the document provides a clear framework for handling transitional issues while ensuring that the new tax laws are not applied retrospectively.

He 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 legal framework.

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

The ministry noted that the document is intended to ensure uniform implementation 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 reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, efficient, and modern tax system that supports economic growth, strengthens revenue administration, encourages voluntary compliance, and improves Nigeria’s investment climate.

Ovuakporie also disclosed that the guidelines have been forwarded for gazetting. The release comes months after Oyedele indicated that publication had been delayed due to uncertainty surrounding the final gazetted version of the new tax laws.