Summary
On 4th June, 2021, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS or "the Service") issued a Public Notice ("the Notice") informing the public of its introduction of an online Tax Administration Solution (TaxPro-Max) for ease of tax compliance.
According to the Notice, the TaxPro-Max platform will amongst other things, enable seamless registration, filing and payment of taxes including automatic credit of withholding taxes and other credits to taxpayers' accounts. In this regard, the Notice states that the TaxPro-Max platform will become the channel for filing all Naira-denominated tax returns effective from 7th June, 2021. The platform is accessible via www.taxpromax.firs.gov.ng
The Notice further requests taxpayers to note the following:
- All Naira-denominated tax returns are to be filed via the TaxPro-Max platform in order to generate an obligatory Document Identity Number (DIN);
- Taxpayers will not be able to pay their taxes without the DIN. Hence, taxpayers who want to submit their tax returns manually must visit the relevant tax office and an FIRS personnel will be on hand to assist in uploading the returns and generating the DIN;
- In view of the time it may take to upload manual returns and generate DIN, taxpayers are encouraged to bring their manual returns to the relevant tax office for upload at least two weeks before the due date for filing;
- Qualified personnel of the Service will be on hand to assist taxpayers who are experiencing challenges in filing their returns via the TaxPro-Max platform and such qualified personnel may be contacted via email at taxpromax@firs.gov.ng.
The Service further advised taxpayers who are yet to get their user credentials to visit the nearest FIRS Tax Office immediately for appropriate onboarding.
Implication
The TaxPro-Max platform is the FIRS' latest effort at digitalising tax administration in Nigeria and is in line with its powers under the FIRS (Establishment) Act. The publication of this Notice therefore demonstrates FIRS' commitment to fully automate the tax compliance process and taxpayers are advised to consult their tax consultants to get a clear understanding on how to navigate the platform and ensure compliance with their tax obligations.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.