By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Government has confirmed that all income earned by Nigerians, whether through remote work for foreign firms, social media influencing, or business imports, will be taxable under the new tax reforms set to kick off on January 1, 2026.
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, disclosed the far-reaching details at a tax education session, describing the new framework as the “most transformative in the nation’s history.”
Oyedele stated that Nigerians working remotely for companies outside the country are now legally required to self-declare their income and pay the appropriate tax, as foreign employers are not responsible for Nigeria’s tax system.
“If you are a remote worker… you earn a salary,” Oyedele explained. “Because your employer is not in Nigeria, they don’t care about the Nigerian tax system… the obligation falls on you to self-declare.”
The same rule applies to social media influencers who generate income online: “You earn income, you pay tax as well.”
The Chairman issued a stern warning that failure to declare income will result in penalties: the government will trace the money movement, deem it as income, charge tax on it, and add penalty and interest for delayed payments.
Tax Clarity for Federal, State, and Local
Addressing the persistent problem of multiple taxation, Oyedele assured Nigerians that the new law clearly defines the “jurisdiction” for each tier of government, simplifying compliance.
The new law specifies which taxes the National Revenue Service, States, and Local Governments shall collect. Oyedele advised individuals to focus primarily on Personal Income Tax.
“You don’t need to even worry about all of them… If you are an individual, just worry about personal income tax,” he stated.
Regarding importers, Oyedele noted that tax reliefs would be tied to the nature of their underlying business—whether trading, manufacturing, or another sector rather than treating importing as a separate line of business.
He also clarified that while upkeep money or gifts are not taxable, any payment received for a service or product will attract tax obligations. The goal is to simplify compliance, reduce multiple taxation disputes, and significantly improve government revenue.