I believe we are all aware of the new Nigeria tax regime that will come into effect from January 2026. If you are yet to put your house/business in order, you have a month to do so.
There are various taxes that will apply to you and your business depending on how you structure your business but then, there are also numerous tax exemptions that you can leverage to reduce your tax burden.
In this article, we will share a list of tax exemptions and relief provided by the government. These exemptions are grouped into various categories, so take your time to go through the list and note the ones that may be applicable to you.
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐄
1. Individuals earning the national minimum wage or less (exempt)
2. Annual gross income up to ₦1,200,000 (translating to about ₦800,000 taxable income) is exempt
3. Reduced PAYE tax for those earning annual gross income up to ₦20 million
4. Gifts (exempt)
𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬
5. Pension contribution to PFA
6. National Health Insurance Scheme
7. National Housing Fund contributions
8. Interest on loans for owner-occupied residential housing
9. Life insurance or annuity premiums
10. Rent relief - 20% of annual rent (up to ₦500,000)
𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 - 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
11. Pension funds and assets under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) are tax-exempt.
12. Pension, gratuity or any retirement benefits granted in line with the PRA
13. Compensation for loss of employment up to ₦50 million
𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐱 (𝐂𝐆𝐓) - 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
14. Sale of an owner-occupied house
15. Personal effects or chattels worth up to ₦5 million
16. Sale of up to two private vehicles per year
17. Gains on shares below ₦150 million per year or gains up to ₦10 million
18. Gains on shares above exemption threshold if the proceeds are reinvested
19. Pension funds, charities, and religious institutions (non-commercial)
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱 (𝐂𝐈𝐓) - 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
20. Small companies (turnover not more than ₦100 million and total fixed assets not more than ₦250 million) pay 0% tax
21. Eligible (labelled) startups are exempt
22. Compensation relief - 50% additional deduction for salary increases, wage awards, or transport subsidies for low-income workers
23. Employment relief - 50% deduction for salaries of new employees hired and retained for at least three years
24. Tax holiday for the first 5-years for agricultural businesses (crop production, livestock, dairy, etc.)
25. Gains from investment in a labeled startup by venture capitalist, private equity funds, accelerators or incubators
𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐲 - 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
26. Small companies are exempt from 4% development levy
𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐱 - 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
27. Small companies, manufacturers and agricultural businesses are exempt from withholding tax deduction on their income
28. Small companies are exempt from deduction on their payments to suppliers
𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐱 (𝐕𝐀𝐓) - 0% 𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
29. Basic food items - 0% VAT
30. Rent - Exempt
31. Education services and materials - 0% VAT
32. Health and medical services
33. Pharmaceutical products - 0% VAT
34. Small companies (≤ ₦100m turnover) are exempt from charging VAT
35. Diesel, petrol, and solar power equipment - VAT suspended or exempt
36. Refund of VAT on assets and overheads to produce VATable or 0% VAT goods and services
37. Agricultural inputs - fertilizers, seeds, seedlings, feeds, and live animals
38. Purchase, lease or hire of equipment for agric purposes
39. Disability aids - hearing aids, wheelchairs, braille materials
40. Transport - shared passenger road transport (non-charter)
41. Electric vehicles and parts - exempt
42. Humanitarian supplies - exempt
43. Baby products
44. Sanitary towels, pads or tampons
45. Land and building
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 - 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭
46. Electronic money transfers below ₦10,000
47. Salary payments
48. Intra-bank transfers
49. Transfers of government securities or shares
50. All documents for transfer of stocks and shares
Share this good news with everyone you care about who needs to know.