The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has officially discontinued the issuance of tax exemption certificates across all categories of taxpayers, including pioneer status companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and free zone entities.
In a public notice signed by Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji, the FIRS announced that no new tax exemption certificates will be issued going forward. Existing certificates will remain valid only until their current expiry dates, after which no renewals will be granted.
“The issuance of Tax Exemption Certificates has been discontinued. Consequently, no further Tax Exemption Certificates will be issued,” the notice stated.
The agency emphasized that future tax benefit claims must strictly adhere to current laws and FIRS-approved procedures. It also warned against any attempt to forge or misrepresent exemption status, saying such actions would attract severe legal penalties.
The decision marks a significant policy shift, reflecting government efforts to reduce Nigeria’s rising tax expenditure and increase revenue transparency. Analysts have long raised concerns about the lack of reliable data on the economic impact of widespread tax exemptions.
Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, FIRS urged all stakeholders to align with the new rules and directed all related enquiries to the office of the Executive Chairman.
