The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says more than 1,000 companies — representing 20% of the over 5,000 large firms eligible — have already begun integrating with its newly launched electronic invoicing (e-Invoicing) platform, in what officials describe as a major leap toward modernizing Nigeria’s tax administration and curbing revenue leakages.
The platform, which officially went live on August 1, is designed to streamline tax compliance, enhance transparency, and close loopholes that have long enabled tax evasion in the country’s business ecosystem. Officials say it also aligns Nigeria with global best practices in digital revenue collection.
FIRS Executive Chairman Dr. Zacch Adedeji disclosed the figures in Abuja on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, noting that the roll-out follows a successful pilot phase launched in November 2024. The first phase targets large taxpayers — companies with an annual turnover of N5 billion and above — before the platform is extended to medium and emerging businesses.
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“In less than two weeks of the initiative going live, no fewer than 1,000 companies, representing 20% of over 5,000 eligible firms, have so far embraced the solution and commenced integration with the FIRS MBS platform,” Adedeji stated.
MTN Ushers in New Digital Tax Era
Telecoms giant MTN Nigeria became the first taxpayer to send live electronic invoices to FIRS, marking the official launch of the e-Invoicing regime. Other corporate heavyweights, including Huawei Nigeria and IHS Nigeria, have completed test transmissions and are expected to go live soon.
To smooth integration, FIRS has partnered with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to bring in service providers who will serve as System Integrators and Access Point Providers. These partners will help taxpayers transition to the digital platform, ensuring invoices are transmitted securely and in compliance with FIRS requirements.
Deadline Extension for Large Corporations
While some companies attempted to meet the initial August 1 compliance deadline, operational bottlenecks slowed progress. In response, FIRS has approved a three-month extension, moving the final onboarding deadline to November 1, 2025.
“In the spirit of encouraging voluntary compliance, the FIRS management has graciously approved a three-month extension of the deadline,” Adedeji said, adding that the agency will continue to hold webinars, workshops, and town hall meetings to guide companies through the transition.
Why This Move Matters for Nigeria’s Revenue Drive
The e-Invoicing solution, part of the broader Nigeria Revenue Services Reform Act, functions as an Electronic Fiscal System (EFS) that provides real-time visibility into commercial transactions, verifying the authenticity, accuracy, and completeness of invoices.
The platform supports the government’s goal of establishing a unified “single source of truth” for tax reporting and public revenue, a critical step for a country struggling with one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in Africa, estimated at about 10%. Economists say such reforms are vital for reducing Nigeria’s dependence on borrowing and oil revenues, especially as debt servicing costs continue to eat into public finances.
According to fiscal analysts, adopting an e-Invoicing model could significantly reduce revenue losses from under-declaration and fraud in corporate reporting. Countries such as Brazil and South Korea have implemented similar systems and recorded substantial improvements in tax collection efficiency.
Adedeji praised the cooperation of taxpayers, consultants, and service providers in embracing what he described as “a transformative shift in Nigeria’s fiscal landscape.”
Once the integration of large taxpayers is complete, FIRS plans to extend the platform to medium-sized enterprises and then smaller businesses, effectively covering the entire formal economy. Officials believe the system could also help identify previously untaxed activity, thereby expanding the country’s tax base.