The Federal Government has confirmed that the implementation of its new tax reforms will begin on January 1, 2026, despite calls from some quarters for more time. The assurance came after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Tax Implementation Committee.
Speaking after the meeting, the chairman of the committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said the government is ready to move forward with the final stage of the reforms. He explained that the laws were designed to ease pressure on ordinary Nigerians and support small businesses across the country.
According to him, most Nigerian workers will either stop paying personal income tax entirely or pay far less under the new system. He added that nearly all small businesses will no longer pay corporate income tax, value added tax, or withholding tax, while larger companies will also benefit from lower tax rates.
Oyedele noted that the aim of the reforms is to make life easier for citizens and help businesses grow, which in turn should improve economic activity. He said the government believes the new tax structure will support fairness and encourage productivity.
He also explained that the process leading to implementation has been thorough. The tax bills spent about nine months at the National Assembly, after which the committee focused on training, system upgrades, and public awareness to ensure a smooth start date.
While acknowledging that such reforms may still need adjustments over time, Oyedele said the government remains committed to improving the system as implementation begins. With the date now fixed, Nigerians are expected to see the effects of the new tax regime from the start of 2026.