The chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has stated that Nigerians earning income through remote work, social media activities, or import-based businesses will be required to pay tax on such earnings under Nigeria’s upcoming tax reform law.
Oyedele clarified this during a tax education session organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish in Lagos.
In a viral video circulating on social media on Tuesday. He stated that the new regime would take effect on January 1, 2026.
He noted that income earned by Nigerians, whether within or outside the country, is subject to personal income tax, even if the employer is based abroad.
“If you are a remote worker, you are still an employee. The only difference is that your work is done remotely,” Oyedele said.
He stressed, “You may be working for a company in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere. The salary you earn from that job is taxable in Nigeria. Since your employer is not based here and won’t remit the tax on your behalf, the responsibility lies with you to self-declare and pay.”
He, however, added that non-compliance will trigger enforcement actions by the government.
“If you refuse to declare your earnings, the government can track the inflow of funds into your accounts. When that happens, they will classify it as undeclared income and charge you accordingly—tax, penalties, and interest on late payment will all apply,” he warned.
He noted that the same rules apply to individuals generating income through online content creation or social media influence.
He continued, “For influencers, it’s no different. If you earn income from your online presence, it is taxable. The source of the income doesn’t exempt it from tax obligations.”
Reacting to importers’ concerns during the discourse, he remarked that tax reliefs would vary based on the specific business activities associated with the imports.
“When people ask whether importers will get any relief, we assess based on the nature of their business, If you are importing goods, you are either trading, manufacturing, or engaged in some form of production. Depending on what you’re doing with those imports, there may be relevant reliefs built into the system.” he averred.
Meanwhile, addressing fears about overlapping tax demands from federal, state, and local governments, Oyedele assured that the new law simplifies and clarifies the roles of each tier of government in tax collection.
“There’s been a lot of confusion around who is supposed to collect what but the new law clearly states the jurisdiction of each level of government.
“It outlines which taxes are federal, which are state, and which fall under the local governments. So individuals and businesses will no longer be paying the same tax to multiple authorities,” he stated.
Similarly, he advised small business owners and individuals not to panic.
“If you are an individual, your focus should be on personal income tax. Many of the current taxes are being removed entirely for small businesses,” he stated. “The only area we’re still working on is harmonising the local government taxes. And if you run a larger business, it is advisable to engage an accountant to help navigate your tax responsibilities.”
Oyedele concluded by noting that one of the key goals of the tax reforms is to reduce the burden on taxpayers while improving transparency and compliance.
“At the end of the day, we are streamlining the system. Instead of the numerous taxes currently in place, there will be a much smaller number.
“The law will spell out what taxes you owe, who you pay them to, and when payment is due. The objective is to make it simpler, not harder, for Nigerians to fulfil their obligations,” he said.
