NRS Sent You an Assessment? Here's Exactly What to Do in 30 Days

Don't Panic — But Don't Ignore It

You've just received a tax assessment from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). Maybe it arrived as an official letter. Maybe it showed up in your NRS Rev360 portal. Either way, the number on it is probably higher than what you expected — and your stomach just dropped.

Take a breath. This is not a penalty. It's not a court order. It's an assessment — the NRS's estimate of what they think you owe. And you have the legal right to challenge it.

But here's the critical part: you have exactly 30 days from the date of the assessment to file a formal objection. Miss that window, and the assessment becomes final. The amount stands. Game over.

Let's walk through exactly what to do, day by day.

What Is a Best-of-Judgment Assessment?

When the NRS believes you haven't filed a return, or that your filed return understates your income, they can issue a best-of-judgment (BOJ) assessment under Section 55 of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025.

This means they've estimated your tax based on whatever information they have — which might be:

• Bank account activity (they can request this from your bank)
• Third-party reports (from employers, clients, or platforms)
• Industry benchmarks (average income for your business type)
• Previous years' filings (if you filed before)

The problem? Their estimate rarely accounts for your actual deductions, non-taxable income, or business expenses. That's why BOJ assessments are almost always higher than your real liability.

Day 1-3: Understand the Assessment

Step 1: Read the notice carefully. Note these key details:

• Assessment number — you'll need this for your objection
• Assessment date — this starts the 30-day clock
• Tax year — which year are they assessing?
• Assessed amount — what they say you owe
• Breakdown — if provided, which income items are they including?

Step 2: Log the assessment in TaxJeje. Go to your assessment tracker and enter the details. TaxJeje will automatically calculate your 30-day objection deadline and start sending you reminders.

Step 3: Compare their numbers with yours. Pull up your TaxJeje tax summary for the same year. Where do the numbers differ? Common discrepancies include:

• Non-taxable income classified as taxable (gifts, loans, refunds)
• Missing business deductions
• Incorrect income figures (they may have counted gross amounts without netting fees)
• Double-counting (same income from multiple sources)

Day 4-14: Gather Your Evidence

This is where good record-keeping pays off. For every line item you want to dispute, you need evidence. Here's what to collect:

For income discrepancies:

• Bank statements showing actual received amounts
• Platform payment reports (Payoneer, Upwork, etc.)
• Invoice records with payment confirmations
• Non-taxable income documentation (gift declarations, loan agreements)

For missing deductions:

• Expense receipts organized by category
• Rent agreements and payment proof
• Pension contribution statements
• WHT certificates from clients who withheld tax

For classification errors:

• Gift declaration forms (signed by donor)
• Loan agreements (signed by lender)
• Capital injection declarations
• Refund documentation

TaxJeje can generate all three declaration types (gift, loan, capital injection) as PDF templates. If you haven't documented non-taxable income yet, now is the time.

Day 15-21: Draft Your Objection

A Notice of Objection (NOO) is a formal document that tells NRS:

1. Which assessment you're objecting to
2. What the correct amounts should be
3. What evidence supports your position

The NOO must be filed under Section 41 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025. It must be in writing and delivered to the NRS within 30 days.

What to include:

• Your name, TIN, and address
• The assessment number and date
• For each disputed item: the NRS amount, your correct amount, and the variance
• A list of supporting documents
• A signed declaration that the information is true and correct

TaxJeje generates your NOO automatically. Go to your assessment, click "Generate Objection," and we'll produce a professional PDF with all your evidence referenced and organized.

Day 22-28: File the Objection

How to submit:

1. In person: Deliver to your NRS tax office with a cover letter. Get a stamped acknowledgment copy
2. Online: Submit via the NRS Rev360 portal if the option is available
3. By registered post: Send to the NRS office listed on your assessment notice. Keep the posting receipt

Critical: Always keep proof of submission. A stamped copy, email confirmation, or postal receipt is your evidence that you filed within the 30-day window.

Day 29-30: Verify and Follow Up

• Confirm your objection was received (call the NRS office if needed)
• Update your assessment status in TaxJeje to "Objection Filed"
• Save all submission evidence

What Happens After You Object

Once your NOO is filed, the NRS must:

1. Review your objection and supporting evidence
2. Agree to amend the assessment (best case)
3. Negotiate a revised amount (common outcome)
4. Reject the objection and maintain the assessment

If the NRS rejects your objection, you can escalate to the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) under Section 57 of the NTA. This is a formal legal proceeding — consider engaging a tax professional at this stage.

What If You Miss the 30-Day Deadline?

If 30 days pass without an objection:

• The assessment becomes final and conclusive
• You are legally required to pay the assessed amount
• Interest and penalties begin accruing
• The NRS can initiate enforcement actions (bank garnishment, asset seizure)

This is why TaxJeje sends you notifications at 30, 23, 16, 9, 5, 2, and 1 day(s) before the deadline. Don't ignore them.

Prevention Is Better Than Objection

The best way to avoid a BOJ assessment is to file your returns on time with accurate numbers. When you file proactively:

• NRS has your self-assessed return on record
• Any assessment they issue must be based on specific grounds (not a blanket estimate)
• You've already documented your deductions and non-taxable income

TaxJeje helps you stay ahead. Track your income and expenses throughout the year, and when filing season comes, your numbers are already ready.

Your 30-Day Action Plan

Don't let 30 days slip by. Your money — and your rights — are on the line.

Log your assessment now →