The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive list of 50 tax exemptions and reliefs aimed at reducing the financial burden on Nigerians and stimulating economic growth under the new tax reform laws.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, in a post on X.
According to Oyedele, the reforms, which will take effect from 1 January 2026, are designed to support low-income earners, average taxpayers, and small businesses.
President Bola Tinubu had, in June, signed into law four major tax reform bills. The bills are: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
Below is the full list of the 50 tax exemptions and reliefs that will benefit the masses, according to the Federal Government.
1. Individuals earning the national minimum wage or less (exempt)
2. Annual gross income up to N1,200,000 (translating to about N800,000 taxable income) is exempt
3. Reduced PAYE tax for those earning annual gross income up to N20 million
4. Gifts (exempt)
5. Pension contribution to PFA
6. National Health Insurance Scheme
7. National Housing Fund contributions
8. Interest on loans for owner-occupied residential housing
9. Life insurance or annuity premiums
10. Rent relief – 20% of annual rent (up to N500,000)
11. Pension funds and assets under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) are tax-exempt.
12. Pension, gratuity or any retirement benefits granted in line with the PRA
13. Compensation for loss of employment up to N50 million
14. Sale of an owner-occupied house
15. Personal effects or chattels worth up to N5 million
16. Sale of up to two private vehicles per year
17. Gains on shares below N150 million per year or gains up to N10 million
18. Gains on shares above exemption threshold if the proceed is reinvested
19. Pension funds, charities, and religious institutions (non-commercial)
20. Small companies (turnover not more than N100 million and total fixed assets not more than N250 million) pay 0% tax
21. Eligible (labelled) startups are exempt
22. Compensation relief – 50% additional deduction for salary increases, wage awards, or transport subsidies for low-income workers
23. Employment relief – 50% deduction for salaries of new employees hired and retained for at least three years
24. Tax holiday for the first 5-years for agricultural businesses (crop production, livestock, dairy etc)
25. Gains from investment in a labelled startup by venture capitalist, private equity fund, accelerators or incubators
26. Small companies are exempt from 4% development levy
27. Small companies, manufacturers and agric businesses are exempt from withholding tax deduction on their income
28. Small companies are exempt from deduction on their payments to suppliers
29. Basic food items – 0% VAT
30. Rent – Exempt
31. Education services and materials – 0% VAT
32. Health and medical services
33. Pharmaceutical products – 0% VAT
34. Small companies (<N100m turnover) are exempt from charging VAT
35. Diesel, petrol, and solar power equipment – VAT suspended or exempt
36. Refund of VAT on assets and overheads to produce VATable or 0% VAT goods and services
37. Agricultural inputs – fertilizers, seeds, seedlings, feeds, and live animals
38. Purchase, lease or hire of equipment for agric purposes
39. Disability aids – hearing aids, wheelchairs, braille materials
40. Transport – shared passenger road transport (non-charter)
41. Electric vehicles and parts – exempt
42. Humanitarian supplies – exempt
43. Baby products
44. Sanitary towels, pads or tampons
45. Land and building
46. Electronic money transfers below N10,000
47. Salary payments
48. Intra-bank transfers
49. Transfers of government securities or shares
50. All documents for transfer of stocks and shares.
