The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, has revealed that the recently signed tax reform laws will officially take effect from January 1, 2026.
The announcement came during his address to State House Correspondents on Thursday, following President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the tax reform bills at the Presidential Villa.
Adedeji explained that the six-month implementation window was strategically chosen to allow sufficient time for comprehensive planning, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with the government’s fiscal calendar. “Based on best practices globally, because when you have this kind of change, it takes time for all the stakeholders, participant operators, and even the regulator to change the system,” he stated.
The FIRS boss emphasized the importance of implementing such significant reforms at the beginning of a new calendar year rather than mid-year. “When you have this kind of change, it’s not what you do mid-year. Because if the application of the law is better, you start from the beginning of the year,” Adedeji noted.
He further clarified the timeline: “So with the magnanimity of the National Assembly, Mr. President, the effective date will be January 1, 2026, by the special grace of Almighty God. We have six full months for both sensitisation and planning. This is also considering the fiscal year of the government, because when you have this kind of change, it’s not what you do in the media.”
Adedeji reiterated the commencement date, stating, “So effective dates, by God’s grace, will be the first of January 2026.” The extended implementation period is designed to ensure all stakeholders, including tax authorities, businesses, and individual taxpayers, are adequately prepared for the transition to the new tax regime.
