FIRS Says Full Impact of Tax Reforms to Be Felt from January 2026
Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has stated that the full effects of the country’s recent tax reforms will become evident from 1 January 2026, when four executive bills signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially take effect.
In a statement on Sunday, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, spokesperson to FIRS Executive Chairman Dr Zacch Adedeji, said the groundwork has been laid for improved revenue performance in 2026. She highlighted that 2025 ended with N22.59 trillion in total collections, reflecting progress under the new reforms.
“The signing of four major tax reform laws, including the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act—which officially transitioned FIRS into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS)—is central to the agency’s transformation,” Atoyebi said.
She explained that the reforms provide the agency with greater autonomy, an expanded mandate covering non-tax revenue, and harmonise previously fragmented tax legislation. “These changes go beyond procedures and represent a shift towards a more structured, accountable system that supports economic growth while ensuring fairness and predictability for taxpayers,” she added.
Between January and August 2025, FIRS collected N20.62 trillion, achieving 82% of its N25.2 trillion annual target. By September, total revenue had reached N22.59 trillion, with non-oil revenue contributing a significant portion. Over the two-year period from October 2023 to September 2025, total collections amounted to N47.39 trillion.
Atoyebi noted that the results demonstrate how a more organised approach to tax administration is beginning to pay off, with technology playing a key role in operations. She added that from January 2026, Nigerians can expect clearer tax procedures, faster processing of Tax Identification Numbers and tax clearance certificates, easier access to services, and improved transparency in revenue management.
The four reform laws include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Procedure Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Tax Board Establishment Bill.
