New directive strengthens digital tax compliance and curbs revenue leakages
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued a firm directive mandating all Nigerian banks to immediately identify and shut down any tax or levy collection accounts not authorised through its TaxPro Max platform. This move is part of a broader effort by the agency to streamline tax administration and reinforce fiscal transparency across the country.
The directive was made public through a notice signed by FIRS Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji and circulated by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, on Monday. The notice emphasizes that all tax collections must now be routed exclusively through TaxPro Max, a digital solution central to FIRS’s modernisation agenda.
A Push for Centralisation and Accountability
Titled “Directive to Close Unauthorised FIRS Tax Collection Accounts”, the notice instructs banks to immediately discontinue the use of any collection accounts outside the TaxPro Max system. The FIRS considers such accounts unauthorised and warns that failure to comply could lead to regulatory consequences.
“Effective immediately, 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 reads. “We count on your cooperation to ensure a smooth transition to this centralised system, thereby contributing to a more transparent and efficient tax collection process.”
The FIRS also reiterated that only transactions originating from TaxPro Max-generated assessments are valid under the Collection, Remittance, and Reconciliation Scheme—an arrangement through which banks partner with the agency to collect government revenue.
What is TaxPro Max?
Launched as part of the FIRS’s digitalisation reforms, the TaxPro Max platform is a homegrown, end-to-end tax administration system designed to simplify compliance for both taxpayers and financial institutions. The platform handles a wide range of functions including taxpayer registration, return filing, payment processing, automatic receipt issuance, and generation of tax clearance certificates.
Since its rollout, TaxPro Max has been positioned as a critical tool in the FIRS’s goal to reduce manual processes, curb revenue leakages, and standardise tax collection procedures nationwide.
Implications for Banks and Taxpayers
For Nigerian banks, this directive demands immediate alignment of internal processes with the FIRS digital platform. Institutions that fail to adhere risk penalties or even removal from the agency’s approved collection network.
Taxpayers, meanwhile, are urged to make payments only through assessments issued on the TaxPro Max portal. Payments made through unauthorised channels or to bank accounts outside the system will be deemed invalid and may expose the payer to penalties or compliance issues.
To ease the transition, the FIRS has directed affected institutions and individuals to contact its Revenue Accounting and Refund Department (RAAD) for support and clarification.
Strengthening Tax Compliance in the Digital Era
This latest directive reflects the FIRS’s intensified efforts to plug revenue leakages and enhance Nigeria’s tax collection efficiency through technology. By consolidating tax collections under one secure digital platform, the agency aims to eliminate the risks associated with fragmented or informal collection processes.
The move also underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for governance reform, transparency, and improved revenue performance.
As Nigeria continues to push for increased non-oil revenue, initiatives like TaxPro Max—and firm enforcement measures like this one—are expected to play a pivotal role in reshaping the country’s tax landscape.
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