Stay compliant with Nigerian tax laws and streamline your reporting process. digiMall provides tools and guidance to help you meet all tax obligations efficiently.
Understanding Your Tax Obligations
As a vendor in Nigeria, you have specific tax responsibilities that vary based on your business structure, turnover, and location.
Federal Taxes
• Company Income Tax (CIT) - 30% for companies
• Value Added Tax (VAT) - 7.5% on goods/services
• Withholding Tax (WHT) - Various rates
• Education Tax - 2% of assessable profit
• National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Levy
State & Local Taxes
• Personal Income Tax (PAYE) - Progressive rates
• Business Premises Registration
• Signage and Advertisement Permits
• Local Government Development Levy
• State-specific business taxes
Business Registration & Tax IDs
Proper business registration is essential for tax compliance and accessing digiMall's advanced vendor features.
Required Registrations
Business Registration
• CAC Business Name/Company Registration
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• VAT Registration (if applicable)
• State Internal Revenue Service registration
Optional but Beneficial
• Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
• Export/Import licenses (if applicable)
• Industry-specific certifications
• Professional body memberships
Essential Record Keeping
Maintaining accurate financial records is crucial for tax compliance and business growth. digiMall provides tools to simplify this process.
Required Records
• Sales Records: All invoices and receipts
• Expense Records: Business expenditure proof
• Bank Statements: All business accounts
• Inventory Records: Stock movements and valuations
• Employment Records: Staff and contractor payments
• Asset Records: Equipment and depreciation
• Tax Returns: Previous years' filings
• Correspondence: Tax authority communications
• Audit Trail: Complete transaction history
VAT Registration & Compliance
Value Added Tax (VAT) registration is mandatory for businesses with annual turnover exceeding ₦25 million or those that voluntarily register.
VAT Registration Thresholds
Mandatory Registration
• Annual turnover > ₦25 million
• Companies providing taxable goods/services
• Importers of goods for commercial purposes
• Non-resident companies with Nigerian operations
Voluntary Registration
• Businesses below ₦25 million threshold
• Startups planning to exceed threshold
• Businesses dealing with VAT-registered clients
• Export-oriented businesses
VAT Calculation & Collection
Standard VAT Rate: 7.5% on most goods and services
Collection Method: Add VAT to product prices for Nigerian customers
Remittance: Monthly to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
Income Tax Compliance
Income tax obligations depend on your business structure - sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company.
Sole Proprietorship
• Pay PAYE through state tax office
• Progressive tax rates (7-24%)
• Monthly/annual filing options
• Personal tax reliefs available
Partnership
• Partners pay individual PAYE
• Partnership files information returns
• Profit allocation to partners
• Withholding tax on certain income
Limited Company
• Company Income Tax at 30%
• Small company rate: 20% (≤₦25M)
• Medium company rate: 25% (₦25M-₦100M)
• Annual tax returns mandatory
digiMall Tax Tools & Reports
Take advantage of built-in tax management tools to simplify compliance and reduce administrative burden.
Automated Tax Reports
Available Reports
• Monthly VAT returns
• Annual income summaries
• Quarterly tax estimates
• Expense categorization reports
• Profit and loss statements
Export Options
• PDF format for filing
• Excel/CSV for accounting software
• Integration with tax software
• Email delivery to accountants
• Cloud storage backup
Tax Configuration Settings
• Set your business structure and tax obligations
• Configure VAT rates and exemptions
• Define expense categories for deductions
• Set up automatic tax calculations
• Schedule periodic tax reminders
Tax Compliance Calendar
Stay on top of important tax deadlines with this comprehensive compliance calendar for Nigerian vendors.
Monthly Obligations
VAT Returns:21st of following month
PAYE Returns:10th of following month
WHT Returns:21st of following month
CIT Advance Payment:Quarterly
Annual Obligations
CIT Returns:6 months after year-end
Annual Returns (CAC):January 31st
Education Tax:With CIT returns
Audit (if required):18 months after year-end
Avoiding Penalties & Ensuring Compliance
Understanding potential penalties helps you maintain compliance and avoid costly mistakes that can impact your business.
Common Penalties
Late Filing Penalties
• VAT: ₦50,000 + 5% of tax due
• PAYE: ₦25,000 + 10% of tax due
• CIT: ₦25,000 + 5% of tax due
• Audit: ₦500,000 for failure to conduct
Interest on Late Payment
• 21% per annum on unpaid taxes
• Calculated from due date
• Compounds monthly
• Additional penalties may apply
Tax Compliance Best Practices
• Set up automatic tax reminders and calendar alerts
• Keep digital copies of all financial documents
• Reconcile digiMall earnings with bank deposits monthly
• Consult a qualified tax professional annually
• Use separate business bank accounts for clear records