Nigerian remote workers required to declare income, pay tax – Taiwo Oyedele

Nigerian remote workers required to declare income, pay tax – Taiwo Oyedele

In a sizable development for Nigeria’s economic landscape, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on monetary policy and Tax Reforms, these days emphasised that Nigerians working remotely for foreign businesses are legally required to declare their earnings and pay taxes in Nigeria.

This directive, part of broader tax reforms set to take impact on January 1, 2026, objectives to make certain comprehensive tax compliance and expand the state’s revenue base.

in step with Oyedele, income earned by means of Nigerians thru far off work, social media influencing, or on line business is taxable beneath the brand new legal guidelines. He clarified that although an character works for a organisation based totally out of doors Nigeria, the income remains situation to Nigerian tax laws.

“if you are a far employee, you are a employee. You just show up to do your work remotely,” he said. “that quantity of money they pay to you is your profits. you will self-declare it.”

The onus of compliance lies with the individual. Failure to claim profits can lead to consequences, along with taxes on undeclared profits, interest for behind schedule payments, and extra costs. Oyedele emphasised that the government has mechanisms to hint unreported earnings thru financial transactions.

“in case you now refuse to declare, the government will see the motion of the cash, and say you didn’t claim, and they will deem it as your earnings, charge you tax on it, upload penalty, upload hobby for not on time bills,” he warned.

This directive extends to numerous classes of profits earners, including far off people, social media influencers, and individuals engaged in on line enterprise sports.

All are predicted to self-declare their profits and satisfy their tax duties for that reason. The reforms intention to close present tax gaps and sell equity within the tax device.