Nigeria has reached a crucial milestone in its digital trade transformation with the global registration of its Tax Identification Number (Tax-ID) and the approval of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the country’s Peppol Authority.
The achievement, made possible with the cooperation of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), registers Nigeria’s Tax-ID under the ISO/IEC 6523 International Coding System, granting Nigerian citizens and businesses international recognition in cross-border transactions.
Europe, Asia, and Australia have already adopted Peppol, a globally recognised framework for the safe and uniform interchange of electronic documents. Now that FIRS is Nigeria’s Peppol Authority, Nigerian companies can easily join this network, enabling quicker payments, lower administrative expenses, and increased competitiveness internationally.
According to FIRS, the measure streamlines compliance for taxpayers and enhances confidence in Nigeria as an investment destination. “This milestone simplifies compliance for taxpayers, enables smoother cross-border transactions, and strengthens confidence in Nigeria as a global trade and investment hub,” the agency said in a statement.
The new framework will make Tax-IDs generated using Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) numbers for enterprises and National Identification Numbers (NIN) for people globally referenceable.
By standardising Tax-IDs at the federal and state levels, the program also lessens administrative errors, duplication, and compliance obligations.
Companies are encouraged to validate their Tax-IDs, update accounting systems, and onboard as soon as possible. FIRS further stated that the launch of the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS) e-invoicing platform is a significant step in simplifying tax administration, closing compliance gaps, and positioning Nigeria to meet global standards in taxation and cross-border trade. Large taxpayers must integrate with the MBS platform by November 1, 2025, with medium and small businesses following in phases.
