The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has directed all Nigerian banks to immediately shut down any tax collection accounts that are not linked to its official TaxPro Max platform.
This directive, issued by the FIRS Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, and publicised through his media aide, Dare Adekanmbi, is part of the agency’s broader effort to modernise tax administration and improve accountability within the revenue system.
Exclusive Use of TaxPro Max Now Mandatory
In a public notice titled “Directive to Close Unauthorised FIRS Tax Collection Accounts,” the FIRS stated that henceforth, all tax and levy collections must be channelled exclusively through TaxPro Max—the digital system designed to centralise tax processes. Any accounts operating outside of this platform are now considered unauthorised.
“All tax and levy collections on behalf of FIRS must be processed exclusively pursuant to an assessment raised on the TaxPro Max platform,” the notice said. It added that all participating banks must comply immediately to avoid breaching FIRS regulations.
Goals: Transparency and Revenue Protection
The agency explained that enforcing exclusive use of the TaxPro Max system would enhance real-time reconciliation, eliminate revenue leakages, and streamline Nigeria’s tax collection framework. The move is expected to simplify payment procedures for taxpayers while significantly reducing manual handling and potential misappropriation of funds.
FIRS reiterated that banks under its Collection, Remittance, and Reconciliation Scheme are required to process only those tax transactions initiated through TaxPro Max-generated assessments.
What Is TaxPro Max?
Developed locally, TaxPro Max is a comprehensive digital tax administration tool that supports various taxpayer activities. These include registration, returns filing, payment, automatic issuance of receipts, and tax clearance certificate generation. It has become a cornerstone in FIRS’s digital reform strategy since its launch.
By consolidating all tax collection through a single digital platform, the FIRS aims to bring consistency and efficiency to the system while discouraging the use of multiple, potentially fraudulent collection accounts.
Impact on Banks and Taxpayers
Banks must now align their internal systems with TaxPro Max to remain in compliance. Failure to do so could result in sanctions or exclusion from future FIRS-related operations.
For taxpayers, the new rule means that all payments must be made strictly based on assessments generated within the TaxPro Max portal. Payments made through any other channel will be invalid and may lead to penalties or delays in processing.
Support for Transition
To ease the transition, the FIRS has encouraged both taxpayers and banks to contact its Revenue Accounting and Refund Department for assistance and further clarification.
This directive signals a major shift in how Nigeria manages tax collection and reflects the FIRS’s commitment to digital transformation, transparency, and accountability in its operations.
