The Federal Government has clarified that Nigerians earning from remote jobs, imports, or online influencing must pay tax locally.
Chairman Taiwo Oyedele said reforms begin January 2026 with clear compliance rules.
The Federal Government has explained how Nigerians earning income from remote jobs, social media, or import businesses will be affected by the new tax reforms starting January 1, 2026.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the clarification during a tax awareness program organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, in Lagos.
Speaking in a video that circulated on social media, Oyedele said Nigerians who work remotely for companies abroad are required to declare their earnings and pay tax locally. According to him, “If you are a remote worker, you are a worker. You may work for an American or European company, but what they pay you is still your salary. You will self-declare it because your employer is not in Nigeria to deduct tax on your behalf.”
He warned that failure to report such income could attract penalties. “The government will see the money moving. If you fail to declare, it will be treated as your income, tax will be charged on it, with added penalty and interest,” he said.
Oyedele stressed that the same rule applies to social media influencers. “You are influencing online, you earn income, you pay tax as well,” he explained.
On concerns from importers, he said tax reliefs would depend on the type of business, whether trading, manufacturing, or another sector. He also addressed fears about multiple taxation, saying the new law clearly spells out which tier of government is entitled to collect specific taxes.
“If you are an individual, just focus on personal income tax. If you are running a small business, most of your taxes have been removed. Bigger businesses may need accountants for guidance. At the end of the day, the number of taxes has been reduced significantly,” Oyedele said.
He further noted that not all inflows are taxable. Gifts or upkeep money are exempt, but payments for any service or product will attract tax obligations.
The reforms, which Oyedele described as the most transformative in Nigeria’s history, aim to simplify compliance, reduce disputes over multiple taxes, and raise government revenue. Under the new framework, workers earning below N800,000 yearly are exempt from personal income tax, while small companies with turnover up to N100 million and assets not more than N250 million are exempt from company income tax, capital gains tax, and the new development levy.
