Your 2026 Tax Return is Due March 31, 2027
If you earned any income in 2026 — whether from a salary, freelance work, business revenue, or investments — you are required to file a tax return by March 31, 2027 under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025[1].
This is the first filing year under the new tax law, and the rules have changed significantly. This guide walks you through the entire process.
Before You Start: What You Need
Gather these documents before you begin:
1. Your Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Verify or retrieve your 13-digit TIN at taxid.nrs.gov.ng
- If you don't have one, register immediately — failure to register carries a ₦50,000 fine plus ₦25,000/month[2]
2. Income Records
- Employment income: Your employer should provide a Form H1 (annual tax deduction schedule)
- Freelance income: All payment records, invoices, and bank statements showing income received
- Foreign income: Payment records with CBN exchange rates at date of receipt
- Other income: Investment returns, rental income, crypto gains
3. Deduction Records
- Business expense receipts (internet, software, equipment, etc.)
- Tenancy agreement and rent payment receipts (for Rent Relief)
- Pension contribution records from your PFA
- NHF and NHIS contribution records
- Equipment purchase receipts (for capital allowances)
4. WHT Certificates
If any payer withheld tax at source, collect your Withholding Tax certificates — these reduce your final liability[3].
Step 1: Calculate Your Total Income
Add up all income sources for the 2026 tax year (January 1 – December 31, 2026).
For each income source:
- Record the gross amount received
- For foreign currency income, convert to Naira using the CBN rate on the date of receipt
- Include all sources: salary, freelance, business, investment, rental
Example:
| Source | Amount |
| Employment salary | ₦8,000,000 |
| Freelance contracts ($12,000 × avg ₦1,550) | ₦18,600,000 |
| YouTube AdSense ($2,400 × avg ₦1,550) | ₦3,720,000 |
| Total Gross Income | ₦30,320,000 |
Step 2: Calculate Your Deductions
List all allowable deductions under Section 30 of the NTA 2025[4]:
Business Expenses (freelance/self-employed):
- Internet and data: ₦200,000
- Software subscriptions: ₦180,000
- Equipment depreciation: ₦250,000
- Professional development: ₦80,000
- Bank and platform fees: ₦300,000
- Home office (proportional): ₦240,000
- Subtotal: ₦1,250,000
Statutory Deductions:
- Pension contributions (8% of qualifying income)
- NHF contributions (if applicable)
- NHIS/health insurance premiums
Step 3: Apply Rent Relief
Under NTA 2025, Rent Relief replaces the abolished CRA[5]:
- 20% of annual rent paid, maximum ₦500,000
- You must have proof of rent payment
- Homeowners who don't pay rent cannot claim this
Example: Annual rent of ₦2,000,000 → Rent Relief = ₦400,000
Step 4: Calculate Your Tax
Apply the NTA 2025 progressive brackets to your chargeable income[6]:
| Bracket | Rate |
| First ₦800,000 | 0% |
| ₦800,001 – ₦3,000,000 | 15% |
| ₦3,000,001 – ₦12,000,000 | 18% |
| ₦12,000,001 – ₦25,000,000 | 21% |
| ₦25,000,001 – ₦50,000,000 | 23% |
| Above ₦50,000,000 | 25% |
Subtract any WHT credits from the total to get the amount you owe.
Step 5: File on NRS Rev360
- Go to selfservice.nrs.gov.ng (the portal that replaced TaxProMax) and log in with your existing TaxProMax credentials (or your Rev360 login if you've set one up)
- Select "File Returns" → "Annual Returns" → Tax Year 2026
- Enter your income by source
- Enter your deductions and reliefs
- The system calculates your tax — verify against your own calculation
- Submit the return
- If tax is owed, pay through the portal (bank transfer, card, or USSD)
Save your submission receipt and reference number.
Step 6: After Filing
- Download and save your filing confirmation
- Keep all supporting documents for 6 years (NTAA Section 31)[7]
- Set a reminder for next year's deadline
- If you overpaid (PAYE exceeded liability), apply for a refund through NRS Rev360
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the old CRA formula — CRA is abolished. Use Rent Relief instead
- Not converting foreign income — All income must be in NGN using CBN rates
- Missing the deadline — Filing late or not at all triggers ₦100,000 for the first month plus ₦50,000 per subsequent month (NTAA Section 101). NTA 2025 doesn't recognise the old PITA "late filing" lower tier — the ₦25,000 + ₦10,000/month figures are obsolete.
- Forgetting WHT credits — Every Naira already withheld reduces what you owe
- Not claiming deductions — Track expenses throughout the year, not just at filing time
Let TaxJeje Handle the Math
This entire process — income tracking, FX conversion, deduction categorization, bracket calculation, and filing preparation — is exactly what TaxJeje automates.
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