The Federal Government has announced that starting from January 1, 2026, all Nigerians earning income—whether through traditional employment, remote work, social media influencing, or business imports—will be required to pay taxes, regardless of how or where they earn.
During a tax education session in Lagos, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, clarified that individuals working remotely for foreign companies and content creators on social platforms are not exempt.
“If you are a remote worker, you are a worker… That amount of money they pay to you is your salary. You will self-declare it.”
Oyedele warned that failure to declare will lead to penalties and interest. He emphasized that the new tax reforms are intended to widen the tax base, enhance revenue, and reduce disputes over overlapping tax jurisdictions.
Under the new law:
* Remote income and foreign salaries earned by Nigerians will be considered taxable in Nigeria.
* Social media influencers who generate online revenue must also declare and pay taxes.
* Exemptions exist for low earners; for instance, individuals earning below ₦800,000 annually may be exempt from personal income tax under the new regime.
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The revised tax laws aim to simplify compliance, resolve issues of multiple taxation by federal, state, and local governments, and push Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio toward 18% by 2027.
