The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has cautioned taxpayers against hiding transactions under its newly launched National E-Invoicing Solution (Merchant-Buyer Model), emphasizing enhanced monitoring capabilities. The warning was issued during a two-day post-launch workshop for large taxpayers in Lagos, aimed at guiding stakeholders on the digital platform’s implementation.
The e-invoicing system digitizes transactions, replacing paper and traditional electronic invoices with real-time validated records containing supplier and buyer details, item descriptions, quantities, prices, taxes, and totals. Mike Adoga, Acting Director of Tax Automation at FIRS, stated, “Every invoice now receives a reference number, and payment gateways are mandated to report all transactions, discouraging non-compliance.” This ensures seamless tax administration and robust transaction oversight.
Emmanuel Eze, representing FIRS Chief of Staff Tayo Koleosho, announced a three-month extension for onboarding and transmission, setting the deadline for November 1, 2025. “This is not a delay tactic but an opportunity to resolve integration issues,” Eze noted, highlighting FIRS’s commitment to technical support and sector-specific engagements. Mohammed Bawa, e-invoicing Project Manager, added that FIRS is decentralizing support channels to enhance accessibility and knowledge dissemination across tax offices.
FIRS has enlisted 16 tech firms, including Pasca Technology, Etranzact, and Interswitch, to aid taxpayers in onboarding. The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s economic strides, such as a 67.12% surge in capital importation to $5.64 billion in Q1 2025, despite challenges like naira volatility (N1,560/$1 in the parallel market) and 22.22% inflation in June, reinforcing efforts to modernize tax administration for sustainable growth.
