FIRS Ends Tax Exemption Certificates For All Entities

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced the discontinuation of tax exemption certificates for all categories of taxpayers, including companies under pioneer status, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and businesses operating within free trade zones.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the agency said the move is part of a broader effort to promote transparency and ensure compliance with existing tax laws.
“The issuance of Tax Exemption Certificates has been discontinued,” the notice stated plainly. “Consequently, no further Tax Exemption Certificates will be issued.”
According to the FIRS, all certificates already issued will remain valid until their respective expiry dates. However, there will be no renewals after expiration, regardless of the applicant’s category.
The tax authority also clarified that going forward, any claim for tax exemptions must be strictly backed by relevant laws and follow procedures approved by the FIRS.
“Any attempt to forge, alter, or misrepresent exemption status will attract strict penalties prescribed by the laws,” the agency warned.
The FIRS urged stakeholders, including affected companies and organisations, to align their operations with the revised procedures and legal obligations, adding that all inquiries on the matter should be directed to the Executive Chairman.
This announcement comes days after the FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, decried the country’s annual revenue losses to aggressive tax avoidance by multinational corporations. Adedeji said such practices erode public trust, impair infrastructure development, and widen inequality.