FG to Tax Remote Workers, Influencers, and Importers from 2026

The Federal Government has announced that income earned by Nigerians through remote jobs, social media influencing, or business imports will be taxable from January 1, 2026, under new tax reforms.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, revealed this during a tax education session at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos. In a viral video from the event, Oyedele stressed that Nigerians working remotely for foreign firms must declare their income and pay tax in Nigeria.

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He explained that since foreign employers are not bound by Nigerian tax laws, the responsibility rests on the workers to self-declare. “If you fail to declare, the government will trace the money movement, classify it as income, and apply tax, penalty, and interest for late payment,” he warned.

Oyedele added that the same rules apply to social media influencers who earn online, as well as importers whose tax reliefs will depend on their line of business, whether trading, manufacturing, or otherwise.

On fears of overlapping taxes, he clarified that the new law clearly defines which taxes are payable to the federal, state, or local governments, aiming to cut multiple taxation.

He emphasized that gifts or upkeep money will not be taxed, but any earnings from services or products will. Oyedele described the reforms as the most transformative in Nigeria’s history, designed to simplify compliance and boost revenue.

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