Nigeria

Value-added tax (VAT)

The standard VAT rate is 7.5% (increased from 5% on 1 February 2020).

Zero-rated items include goods and services purchased by diplomats and goods purchased for use in humanitarian donor-funded projects. Exempt items include plants and machinery for use in export processing zones (EPZs) or free trade zones (FTZs), basic food items (based on a specific list), medical products and services, pharmaceutical products, books and educational materials, and exported services. 

MTN, Airtel, government agencies, banks, and oil and gas companies are required to deduct at source VAT charged by their suppliers and remit it to the tax authority. All other organisations are required to collect VAT charged on their invoices from their customers for filing and payment to the tax authority.

The Finance Act 2019 has introduced a reverse-charge mechanism for services from which no tax invoice was received. VAT returns is  filed on a cash basis.

The FIRS has implemented a platform for auto tracking and remittance of VAT known as FIRS VAT-Collect. Some of the users of the system are domestic airlines (for instant remittance of VAT on their ticket sales) and other retailers.

Non-resident digital companies (as appointed by the tax authorities) rendering services to Nigerian customers are required to charge, collect VAT, and remit to the FIRS in the currency of transaction.

Customs duties

Customs duties in Nigeria are levied only on imports. Rates vary for different items, typically from 5% to 35%, and are assessed with reference to the prevailing Harmonized Commodity and Coding System (HS code).

Airlines registered in Nigeria and providing commercial air transport services are entitled to duty-free importation of their aircraft, engines, spare parts, and components, whether purchased or leased.

Excise duties

Excise duty is applicable on beer and stout, wines, spirits, cigarettes, and homogenised tobacco manufactured in or imported into Nigeria at 20%.

Excise duties on tobacco and alcoholic beverages have increased effective 1 June 2022, whilst excise duties have been introduced on non-alcoholic beverages and all services. The new regime applies only to tobacco and its products (such as cigarettes), alcoholic beverages (beers and stouts, spirits, and wines), non-alcoholic beverages, and telecommunication services (only) as follows:

Tobacco

From 1 June 2022, in addition to the 30% ad valorem rate, a specific rate of NGN 4.2 will be paid on each cigarette stick (NGN 84 per pack of 20 sticks).

In 2023, the specific rate will increase to NGN 4.7 per stick (NGN 94 per pack of 20 sticks). In 2024, the specific rate will increase to NGN 5.2 per stick (NGN 104 per pack of 20 sticks).

Beer and stout

With respect to alcoholic beverages, no ad valorem rate is applicable.

In 2022, NGN 40 per litre is payable on beer and stout. In 2023 and 2024, NGN 45 per litre and NGN 50 per litre will be payable, respectively.

Wines

From 1 June 2022, in addition to the 20% ad valorem rate, a specific rate of NGN 50 per litre will be paid.

In 2023, the specific rate will increase to NGN 60 per litre. In 2024, the specific rate will increase to NGN 70 per litre.

Spirits

From 1 June 2022, in addition to the 20% ad valorem rate, a specific rate of NGN 50 per litre will be paid.

In 2023, the specific rate will increase to NGN 65 per litre. In 2024, the specific rate will increase to NGN 75 per litre.

Non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages

Excise duty will apply to non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages (including fruit juices and energy drinks) at a specific rate of N10 per litre.

Telecommunication services

The Finance Act 2020 provides a framework for levying excise duty on telecommunication services provided in Nigeria at rates to be determined by the President. The Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariffs Amendments 2022 introduced excise duties of 5% on postpaid and prepaid telecommunication services. This is yet to be implemented.

Property taxes

Property taxes in Nigeria are usually levied annually by the state government with varying rates depending on the state and the location of the property within the state. The two major property taxes are governor’s consent fee and land registration fee. In Lagos (which is the economic hub of Nigeria), governor’s consent fee, land registration fees, and other levies payable to the state give rise to a total levy of 3% of the fair value of the land.

Also, Right of Occupancy fee and tenement rates are chargeable by state and local government authorities.

Stamp duties

Under the Stamp Duty Act, stamp duty is payable on any agreement executed in Nigeria or relating, whatsoever, to any property situated in or to any matter or thing done in Nigeria. Instruments that are required to be stamped under the Stamp Duties Act must be stamped within 40 days of first execution.

Stamp duty is chargeable either at fixed rates or ad valorem (i.e. in proportion to the value of the consideration), depending on the class of instrument. Stamp duty is imposed at the rate of 0.75% on the authorised share capital at incorporation of a company or on registration of new shares.

All deposit banks and financial institutions are required to charge stamp duties of NGN 50 on every eligible transaction above NGN 10,000. There are exemptions for transactions between accounts held by the same bank customer and for salary accounts.

The 2020 Finance Act has modified section 89(3) of the Stamp Duties Act to remove electronic transfer from the scope of stamp duty and introduced an electronic money transfer levy, which is applicable on electronic receipts or electronic transfer for money deposited in a financial institution, on any type of account. The applicable levy is NGN 50 on any transfer of NGN 10,000 or more.

Capital gains tax (CGT)

Gains accruing to a chargeable person (individual or company) on the disposal of chargeable assets shall be subject to tax under the CGT Act at the rate of 10%. There is no distinction between long-term and short-term gains and no inflation adjustment to cost for CGT purposes.

All forms of assets, including options, debts, goodwill, and foreign currency, other than those specifically exempt, are liable for CGT.

The gains on the disposal of shares in a Nigerian company are subject to CGT, subject to certain exemptions (i.e transactions valued above NGN 100 million or where the gains are reinvested in a Nigerian company within a 12-month period or where the transaction is related to a regulated securities lending transaction).

CGT is applicable on the chargeable gains received or brought into Nigeria in respect of assets situated outside Nigeria.

Capital losses are not allowed as an offset against chargeable gains accruing to a person from the disposal of any assets.

There is a requirement to self-assess and remit CGT due no later than 30 June and 31 December of the same year upon the disposal of a chargeable asset.

In relation to compensation for loss of office, only the excess above NGN 10 million is chargeable to CGT at 10%. The employer is required to deduct and remit the CGT within the time specified for the payment of PAYE tax.

Police Fund Levy

The Act imposes a levy of 0.005% on the 'net profit' of companies ‘operating business’ in Nigeria. This levy will be paid to the FIRS.

Payroll contribution

Under the Employee Compensation Act, all employers were required to contribute 1% of their payroll cost in the first two years of commencement of the Act (2010 to 2012). Subsequently, assessments were expected to be issued by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, the body empowered to administer and implement the Act. In practice, a contribution of 1% of payroll continues to apply.

Pension contributions

Employers with at least 15 employees are required to participate in a contributory pension scheme for their employees. The minimum contribution is 18% of monthly emolument (with a minimum contribution of 10% by the employer and 8% by the employee). If the employer decides to bear all the contribution, the minimum contribution is 20% of monthly emolument. Mandatory and/or voluntary contributions by the employers are deductible for CIT purposes.

National Housing Fund (NHF) contributions

NHF contributions are applicable to Nigerian employees earning a minimum of NGN 30,000 per annum. The employer is required to deduct 2.5% of gross income from employees earning more than NGN 30,000 per annum and remit it to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria within one month of deduction. The levy is voluntary for employees in private employment.

Information technology levy

A company with an annual turnover of NGN 100 million or more is required to pay 1% of its profit before CIT as information technology tax. This levy is deductible for CIT purposes when paid (typically in the year of assessment following that in which the payment was made).

This tax is applicable to:

• Banking and other financial activities, including capital and money market operators, mortgage institutions, and micro-finance banks.
• Insurance activities, including brokerage.
• Pension fund administration, pension management, and related services.
• GSM service providers and telecommunication companies.
• Cyber and internet services providers.

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure Act (NASENI Act) levy

NASENI was established in 1992 under the NASENI Act to contribute to science and technology advancement in Nigeria. Prior to the Finance Act 2021, the Act imposed a levy of 0.25% of the turnover of commercial companies. However, there was no clarity on the modalities for administering the levy, and it was not assessed in practice.

The law now empowers the FIRS to collect the levy and provides that the levy is now to be computed at 0.25% of the profit before tax (as against turnover) of commercial companies in the banking, mobile communication, ICT, aviation, maritime, and oil and gas sectors. Companies with annual turnovers below NGN 100 million are not liable.

Cabotage levy 

The Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act restricts the use of foreign vessels in domestic coastal trade with the purpose of promoting indigenous tonnage, to establish a cabotage vessel financing fund, and for related matters. The levy is applied as a 2% surcharge of the contract sums earned by vessels engaged in coastal trade in Nigeria.

Levy on contracts awarded in the upstream oil and gas sector

The Nigerian Content Development Act was introduced to increase the level of Nigerian participation in the oil and gas industry. The Act imposes a levy of 1% on every contract awarded in the upstream oil and gas sector of the economy. Any violation of the Act is liable for a fine of 5% of the contract value and may result in outright cancellation of the contract.