The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has said that under Nigeria’s new tax laws, all forms of income—whether from legitimate or illegitimate activities—will be subject to taxation.
Speaking during a “Tax Compliance and Planning” session hosted by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and streamed live on YouTube on September 26, Oyedele explained that the reforms make no distinction between the sources of earnings, stressing that anyone providing a service or product is required to pay tax.
“If someone is rendering a service, such a person will pay tax. The law does not ask whether the activity is legitimate or not. It simply asks if income was earned. If yes, tax applies,” he stated, using runs girls, social media influencers, and remote workers for foreign companies as examples.
The reforms, signed into law in June, consolidate four major legislations: the Nigerian Tax Act (NTA), the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigerian Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSEA), and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBEA). The NRSEA and JRBEA will take effect on June 26, 2025, while the NTA and NTAA are scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026.
Oyedele added that the new framework is also designed to reduce the tax burden on 90 per cent of Nigerian workers, as part of the government’s broader efforts to increase non-oil revenue amid rising fiscal pressures.