The Nigeria Revenue Service says its six-month reform drive is already producing measurable gains in tax administration, with stronger automation, improved taxpayer service and tighter oversight. The agency said it has expanded the tax net by using data from banks, the Corporate Affairs Commission and Customs, which helped lift registered taxpayers by about 23 per cent.
It also said the new REV 360 platform has simplified tax processes by bringing registration, filing, payment, verification and dispute resolution into one system. According to the Service, about 68 per cent of filings are now done online, while average processing time has dropped from seven days to 48 hours.
The Service said it has opened 12 new taxpayer service centres, expanded SME education clinics nationwide and supported more than 400,000 taxpayers. It added that complaint resolution time has fallen by 40 per cent, while reported harassment and extortion at tax offices dropped sharply after staff retraining, whistleblower measures and a zero-tolerance policy.
It also said it has signed data-sharing agreements with 20 state internal revenue services and key federal agencies to improve joint audits and reduce multiple taxation. Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the reforms are helping informal businesses formalise, pointing to daily business registrations at the Corporate Affairs Commission, and stressed that the goal is to widen the tax base rather than raise rates.
The agency said challenges remain, especially in the informal sector and public perception, but insisted the next six months will focus on deeper SME support, faster refunds and greater transparency in how revenue is used.