Tax Reforms: The 20 Recommendations by Presidential Tax Committee

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CEM REPORT, FINANCE | On July 7, 2023, President Tinubu set up a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, headed by Mr. Oyedele as its Chairman. The Committee has submitted its report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The report titled ‘Quick Wins within 30 days’ of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee led by its Chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, was presented to the President on Tuesday at the Aso Villa.

This was according to the Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale who also confirmed that the President directed all recommendations by the Committee to be implemented in a bid to reform the country’s tax sector.

Below are a full list of recommendations presented to the President according to Oyedele’s post on his official X handle

1. Measures to address duplication of functions in public service, ensure prudent public financial management and optimize value from government assets and natural resources
2. Policy signalling and collaboration by MDAs, economic management, and policy execution team
3. Use of technology “Data4Tax” to expand the tax net
4. Increase personal income tax exempt threshold and personal relief allowance
5. Tax break for the private sector in respect of wage increases to low-income earners, transport subsidy and net increase in employment
6. Permit the payment of taxes on foreign currency-denominated transactions in Naira for Nigerian businesses.
7. Remove impediments to global employment opportunities for Nigerians based in Nigeria
8. Suspension of VAT on diesel and tax waivers on CNG, CNG conversion, and renewable energy items
9. Comprehensive review of tariffs on the 43 items unbanned from accessing forex in the official market and fiscal policy review of other items prohibited for imports
10. Reforms of Withholding Tax Regulations to ensure simplicity and ease the pressure on the working capital of businesses
11. Facilitate the use of mobile phones for conditional cash transfers and introduce a spending framework for subsidy removal and forex reform windfall, including a national portal to track spending by FG, states and local governments
12. Suspension of multiple taxes which place burdens on the poor and small businesses and compensate with windfalls revenue of certain agencies
13. Expand the official foreign exchange market to incorporate BDCs, forex apps and retail fx dealers, and outlaw transactions in the black market
14. Digitalise Nigeria’s fx regime and discourage speculative demands and hoarding of fx in cash
15. Imposition of excise tax on foreign exchange transactions outside the official market
16. Implement forward contracts for the importation of PMS as a short-term measure pending improvement in key economic indices
17. Discontinue the FX verification portal and requirement for Certificate of Capital Importation and export proceeds restriction
18. Address impediments to export promotion and bottlenecks regarding Exports. Expansion Grants and remove restrictions on repatriation and use of export proceeds by exporters
19. Modify Tax ProMax to allow taxpayers to make part payments of outstanding tax liabilities
20. Grant waiver of penalty and interests on the condition of full payment of outstanding tax liabilities on or before December 31 2023

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