Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward global digital trade leadership as its Tax Identification Number (Tax-ID) has been officially registered under the ISO/IEC 6523 International Coding System, earning international recognition for individuals and businesses engaged in cross-border transactions.
This milestone, achieved through the joint effort of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), establishes FIRS as the nation’s Peppol Authority—a move that integrates Nigeria into the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (Peppol) network, already adopted across Europe, Asia, and Australia.
With Peppol now operational in Nigeria, businesses gain access to a secure and standardised framework for electronic document exchange, enabling faster payments, reduced transaction costs, and enhanced competitiveness in the global marketplace.
“This milestone simplifies compliance for taxpayers, enables smoother cross-border transactions, and strengthens confidence in Nigeria as a global trade and investment hub,” FIRS stated.
Streamlining Compliance and Strengthening Investment Confidence
The framework ensures that Tax-IDs—derived from the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) numbers for businesses—are now globally referenceable. This integration reduces duplication, minimises administrative errors, and unifies tax systems across federal and state levels.
In line with this transformation, FIRS also announced the rollout of the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS) e-invoicing platform. Large taxpayers are required to adopt the system by November 1, 2025, while medium and small businesses will onboard in subsequent phases.
“The launch of MBS is a significant step in simplifying tax administration, closing compliance gaps, and positioning Nigeria to meet global standards in taxation and cross-border trade,” the agency added.
Looking Ahead
By aligning its tax infrastructure with global standards, Nigeria not only strengthens compliance but also signals its readiness to become a trusted hub for digital trade and investment flows across Africa and beyond.
