From January 1, 2026, Nigeria’s new tax reform law will introduce 50 exemptions and reliefs aimed at easing the financial burden on low-income households, salary earners, pensioners, and small businesses.
The exemptions and reliefs—announced by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, on Monday—represent one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive efforts to simplify taxation, promote equity, and encourage compliance.
Spanning personal income tax, corporate tax, value-added tax (VAT), and stamp duties, the new measures are designed to support economic productivity and promote inclusive growth in Africa’s most populous nation.
Below is a breakdown of the key exemptions and reliefs under the new regime.
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐄
1. Individuals earning the national minimum wage or less (exempt)
2. Annual gross income up to ₦1,200,000 (translating to about ₦800,000 taxable income) is exempt
3. Reduced PAYE tax for those earning an annual gross income up to ₦20 million
4. Gifts (exempt)
𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬
5. Pension contribution to Pension Fund Administrator (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 ₦500,000)
𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 – 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
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 ₦50 million
𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐱 (𝐂𝐆𝐓) – 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
14. Sale of an owner-occupied house
15. Personal effects or chattels worth up to ₦5 million
16. Sale of up to two private vehicles per year
17. Gains on shares below ₦150 million per year or gains up to ₦10 million
18. Gains on shares above exemption threshold if the proceed is reinvested
19. Pension funds, charities, and religious institutions (non-commercial)
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱 (𝐂𝐈𝐓) – 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
20. Small companies (turnover not more than ₦100 million and total fixed assets not more than ₦250 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 labeled startup by venture capitalist, private equity fund, accelerators or incubators
𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐲 – 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
26. Small companies are exempt from 4% development levy
𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐱 – 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
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
𝐕𝐀𝐓 – 0% 𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
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 (≤ ₦100m 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
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 – 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
46. Electronic money transfers below ₦10,000
47. Salary payments
48. Intra-bank transfers
49. Transfers of government securities or shares
50. All documents for transfer of stocks and shares
