By Eunice Orike
Federal Capital Territory- Internal Revenue Service, FCT-IRS, has launched a new digital tax platform, Taxporta to make tax registration, filing and payment easier for individuals, businesses and government agencies.
The agency unveiled the platform during a stakeholders’ engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, held at the National Assembly Library Trust Fund complex on Tuesday in Abuja.
The meeting provided the platform to educate government institutions on the implementation of Nigeria’s 2025 tax reform laws and encourage voluntary compliance.
Executive chairman of FCT-IRS, Michael Ango said that the introduction of Taxporta is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to modernise tax administration and improve service delivery
According to him, the platform allows taxpayers to carry out almost every tax-related transaction online without visiting any FCT-IRS office.
Ango explained that users can register for tax, file returns, calculate tax obligations, make payments, generate receipts and obtain tax clearance certificates directly through the portal.
He said that the system has been designed to reflect the provisions of the new tax laws, making tax calculations easier and reducing the need for third-party assistance.
“Taxpayers only need to enter their income details. The system will automatically calculate taxes, apply the necessary allowances and process payments and tax clearance certificates,” he said.
The FCT-IRS boss noted that the launch of Taxporta aligns with the agency’s digital transformation agenda and is expected to improve tax compliance and boost revenue generation in the FCT.
He expressed optimism that the new platform would help the agency surpass its revenue targets by making tax processes more efficient and accessible.
On enforcement, Ango said that the agency would continue to focus on encouraging voluntary compliance rather than immediately imposing sanctions on defaulters.
He explained that while the law provides penalties for non-compliance, taxpayers with genuine reasons for delays could be granted extensions.
However, he warned that penalties would apply to individuals or organisations that deliberately refuse to comply with tax obligations.
Ango also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the FCT-IRS and government institutions, noting that the agency occupies a unique position as both a Federal Government agency and an arm of the FCT administration.
He said that stakeholder engagement was organised to ensure a smooth transition to the upgraded tax platform while strengthening partnerships with MDAs.
According to him, increased tax compliance would provide more funds for infrastructure development and public services across Abuja.
He explained that the FCT relies heavily on internally generated revenue as it receives only a small percentage of Federal allocations.
Executive secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Henry Nwauna described the engagement as an important step towards improving cooperation between tax authorities and government institutions
He said that stronger collaboration, transparency and accountability among MDAs would enhance revenue generation and support national development.
During a presentation on the new tax reforms, Tax Controller of the MDA Tax Office, Fatima Abubakar urged government agencies, businesses and individuals to comply with the provisions of the 2025 Nigerian Tax Reform Acts.
She explained that the sensitisation programme focused on key areas such as taxpayer registration, filing of returns, tax assessments and issuance of tax clearance certificates.
Abubakar said that every taxable individual, business and government institution must obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number, TIN, and fulfil their tax obligations under the new laws.
She warned that tax authorities now have the power to automatically generate TINs for taxable individuals using their National Identification Numbers, NINs.
According to her, the new tax regime requires taxpayers to pay tax not only on salaries but also on benefits and allowances received as part of their employment.
She cited examples such as official vehicles and other benefits-in-kind, which are now subject to taxation.
Abubakar also warned that incomplete tax filings could attract a fine of N100,000 in the first month and N50,000 for each subsequent month of default.
She advised MDAs and other organisations to demand valid Tax Clearance Certificates, TCCs, from contractors before awarding contracts, warning that failure to do so could attract a N5 million penalty.
One of the participants, Mohammed Ali, a tax manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, praised the FCT-IRS for organising the engagement.
He said that the programme would improve transparency, strengthen relationships between taxpayers and the tax authority, and boost stakeholders’ confidence in the tax administration system.
