All questions

Direct taxation of businesses

i Tax on profits

There are two corporate income taxes: companies' income tax (CIT) pursuant to the CIT Act (CITA) and petroleum profits tax (PPT) pursuant to the PPT Act.

Determination of taxable profit

CIT is chargeable on the profits of all companies apart from those engaged in oil exploration and production. Expenses are deductible if they are 'wholly, exclusively, necessarily and reasonably' incurred in the making of profits. Donations to charities and educational institutions are deductible up to a prescribed limit. Instead of depreciation, capital allowance is allowed annually at specified rates that can be as high as 95 per cent in the first year.

PPT is chargeable on the profits of any company engaged in the exploration and production of petroleum (or crude oil). Under the PPT Act, expenses are deductible if they are 'wholly, exclusively and necessarily' incurred in the making of the profits. The test for deductibility does not include reasonableness as is the case with companies in other sectors. In addition, instead of depreciation, capital allowance is allowed annually at specified rates. For the purposes of both CIT and PPT, taxable profits are arrived at by aggregating all trading income and then deducting exempt income, allowable expenses, capital allowance and carried-forward losses.

For the purposes of CIT, profits are taxed on an accrual basis. The tax is paid after the tax year (that is, on a preceding-year basis). PPT, however, is paid in advance, in monthly instalments based on forecasts of year-end profits and tax; in other words, PPT is paid on a current-year basis with reconciliation made at the end of the tax year to reflect actual profits made in that year. Profits of a Nigerian company are deemed to accrue in Nigeria regardless of where they arise. Nigerian companies are therefore subject to CIT on worldwide profits. Profits of a non-Nigerian company are taxable in Nigeria to the extent that they arise (or are deemed to arise) in Nigeria – the CITA prescribes various tests for determining this (see Section IV).

The CITA also sets out rules for taxation of a company at commencement of business, change of accounting date and cessation. The commencement rules and change of accounting date may lead to double taxation on a company.

Capital and income

Taxable profits consist solely of income or trading profits – these are profits that arise from business or trade. Profits that arise from the disposal of a capital asset are not included in income tax computations but are chargeable to tax under the Capital Gains Tax Act (CGT Act).

Losses

A company that makes trading losses is entitled to treat them as tax-deductible and to carry forward unrecovered losses indefinitely, even if the ownership of the company changes. Losses cannot, however, be carried back or offset against capital gains.

Rates

The CIT rate is 30 per cent of profits. Companies engaged in crude oil exploration and production are subject to PPT at rates that vary between 50 and 85 per cent depending on the nature of the taxpayer's operations. The CGT rate is 10 per cent.

Administration

Corporate taxes are administered by a single tax authority, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Every company is required to file a self-assessment return with the tax authority at least once a year. The filed return must contain the company's audited accounts, tax and capital allowances computation, and a duly completed self-assessment form. The company may pay the tax due and forward evidence of payment along with its return. For PPT purposes, at least two returns must be filed. The first is filed early in the tax year and is based on forecasts of profit and tax. The second is filed after the end of the tax year and reflects actual profits and tax. If forecasts change during the year, a company may amend the first returns from time to time.

Education tax of 2 per cent of assessable profits is imposed on all companies incorporated in Nigeria. Assessment and payment of education tax are done together with the assessment and collection of the CIT or PPT, whichever is applicable.

The Industrial Training Fund Act requires every employer with a staff strength of 25 or more to contribute 1 per cent of its annual payroll to the fund established by the Act. An employer may be refunded up to 60 per cent of the amount contributed if the Industrial Training Fund Governing Council is satisfied that the employer's training programme is adequate.

The Employees' Compensation Act directs every employer covered by the Act to make a minimum monthly contribution of 1 per cent of its monthly payroll. The scope of the Act extends to both the public and private sectors with the exception of members of the armed forces; however, staff of the armed forces employed in a civilian capacity are covered by the Act.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Act mandates every oil or gas company to pay 3 per cent of its annual budget to the Commission for tackling ecological problems in the Niger Delta, where most of Nigeria's oil is produced.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act mandates telecommunications companies, cyber-related companies, pension-related companies, banks and other financial institutions with an annual turnover of 100 million naira or more to pay a levy of 1 per cent of their profits before tax to the NITDA Fund. In addition, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency imposes a 3 per cent levy on all inbound and outbound cargo from ships or shipping companies operating in Nigeria.

The FIRS has introduced an integrated tax administration system to enhance tax administration. Thus, taxpayers are now able to file tax returns and pay their taxes electronically. This has significantly reduced the complexity, time and cost of paying taxes.

Tax grouping

Nigerian law makes no provision for the tax treatment of a group of companies as one entity. Each company within a group is therefore taxable in Nigeria on an individual basis. Consequently, losses suffered by one member of a group of companies cannot be utilised to reduce the tax liability of another company within the group, but must be carried forward and set off against the future profits of the company that incurred them.

ii Other relevant taxes

In addition to income taxes, Nigerian businesses are also subject to other taxes such as value added tax (VAT) under the VAT Act, CGT under the CGT Act and stamp duties under the Stamp Duties Act.

VAT is levied on the supply of all goods and services with a few exceptions. The rate of VAT is 5 per cent, and it is collected by the supplier and remitted to the FIRS, except where the supplier is a foreign company, in which case the purchaser withholds the VAT and remits it to the FIRS. A taxpayer is allowed to recover VAT incurred in acquiring stock-in-trade or inventory, but not VAT incurred on overheads and administration or on capital assets. It remains unclear whether VAT arises on the sale of choses in action (or intangible contractual rights). Lagos State has also introduced a 5 per cent consumption tax on hotels, restaurants and event centres.

CGT is charged on the gains arising on the disposal of an asset at a rate of 10 per cent. Gains that are applied towards replacing business assets are exempted from CGT, as are gains arising from the disposal of stocks and shares, and those arising from the merger of two companies provided that no cash payment is made. On the other hand, gains arising from a demerger or spin-off are not exempted even where assets have been moved to entities under the same control and ownership as the transferor.

The Stamp Duties Act provides for stamp duty to be paid on instruments. The rates are as contained in the Act, and can be as high as 6 per cent of the value of the underlying transaction.