The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has unveiled Taxportal, a digital tax management platform designed to simplify tax filing, improve voluntary compliance and modernise tax administration in line with Nigeria’s 2025 tax reforms.

The platform was launched during a stakeholders’ engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Complex in Abuja, where the Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, said the initiative forms part of the Service’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at making tax administration more efficient and accessible.

Ango said the upgraded platform would enable taxpayers to complete virtually all tax-related transactions remotely without visiting FCT-IRS offices.

According to him, Taxporta is an end-to-end self-service platform that allows taxpayers to register, file tax returns, calculate tax liabilities, make payments, generate receipts and obtain Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) without requiring third-party assistance.

“Any serious institution, whether in the public or private sector, must move with the times. This is a continuation of our digital innovation process to ensure taxpayers can access our services from the comfort of their homes or offices without having to visit our offices physically,” he said.

He explained that the platform has been configured to reflect the provisions of the new tax laws by automatically applying statutory reliefs and allowances once taxpayers provide their income details.

“All the allowances provided under the law have already been embedded into the system. Taxpayers simply provide their income information, while the platform computes their tax liabilities, processes payments and generates tax clearance certificates,” Ango added.

The FCT-IRS boss expressed confidence that the digital platform would strengthen revenue collection and position the Service to surpass its annual revenue targets.

“Our objective is to maximise tax collection. We are not fixated on a specific figure. If our target is ₦400 billion or ₦500 billion and we eventually collect ₦600 billion, that would be a welcome outcome,” he said.

Despite the stricter provisions contained in the new tax laws, Ango maintained that the Service would continue to prioritise voluntary compliance over punitive enforcement.

“The law provides for penalties, but our first approach is always voluntary compliance. Where taxpayers have genuine reasons for delay, we are willing to grant extensions. Penalties only become necessary when there is deliberate refusal to comply,” he stated.

He described the FCT-IRS as occupying a unique position as both a Federal Government agency and an institution of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), stressing that collaboration with MDAs remains critical to effective tax administration.

According to him, the stakeholders’ engagement was organised to sensitise government institutions on the implementation of the 2025 tax reforms, obtain feedback from key stakeholders, facilitate a seamless transition to the upgraded digital platform and eliminate incidences of multiple taxation.

Ango also underscored the importance of internally generated revenue (IGR) to the development of the nation’s capital, noting that tax revenue remains the principal source of funding for infrastructure and public services in the FCT.

“The reality is that the FCT receives only one per cent of the Federal Government’s allocation from the Federation Account. Consequently, the bulk of resources available for infrastructure and development projects comes from internally generated revenue,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Henry Nwauna, described the engagement as a strategic initiative that would strengthen collaboration between government institutions and tax authorities.

He said greater cooperation, transparency and mutual understanding among MDAs and tax authorities were essential to improving tax compliance and supporting sustainable national development.

Earlier, the Director of Tax Operations (Corporate, MDAs and International Organisations), Salome Adeyemi, urged stakeholders to embrace the Taxporta platform, expressing confidence that it would improve tax registration, filing, payment and issuance of Tax Clearance Certificates while deepening collaboration between the Service and taxpayers.

Speaking on the implementation of the new tax regime, the Tax Controller, MDA Tax Office, Fatima Abubakar, urged MDAs and taxpayers to comply fully with the provisions of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025 and other tax reform laws to avoid sanctions.

She explained that every taxable individual, business and government institution is required to obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), adding that the tax authority now has powers to automatically generate TINs for taxable persons using their National Identification Number (NIN).

Abubakar further disclosed that taxable income under the new regime extends beyond salaries to include benefits and allowances enjoyed by employees.

“All benefits, whether in cash or kind, are taxable because they constitute perks of office. For example, five per cent of the value of an official vehicle is taxable. Failure to file complete tax returns attracts a fine of ₦100,000 in the first month and ₦50,000 for every subsequent month of default,” she said.

She also warned that MDAs awarding contracts must request valid Tax Clearance Certificates from contractors before awarding contracts or risk a penalty of ₦5 million.

Also speaking, a Tax Manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mohammed Ali, commended the FCT-IRS for organising the engagement, describing it as a timely initiative that would strengthen transparency and boost stakeholders’ confidence in the tax administration system.

“I think it is worthwhile and very important. It will boost stakeholders’ confidence and demonstrates transparency in the discharge of the Service’s responsibilities,” he said.

The Director of Information and Communication Technology, Ayokanmi Ogunwumiju, demonstrated the payment solution service providers integrated into Taxporta, highlighting the platform’s security architecture, efficiency and user-friendly features.

The stakeholder engagement forms part of the FCT-IRS’ broader strategy to leverage technology to improve service delivery, deepen voluntary tax compliance and strengthen revenue generation for the sustainable development of the Federal Capital Territory.