The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has launched a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at creating a more consistent, transparent, and user-friendly tax system across Nigeria. This initiative is designed to address long-standing issues of confusion and inconsistency that taxpayers have faced due to varying practices in different FIRS offices.

A Unified Framework for Tax Administration

The revised SOP provides a single, clear roadmap for core tax processes, including registration, payment, audit, and enforcement. According to Collins Omokaro, Special Adviser on Communication Strategy and Advocacy to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, the updated SOP is a “vital link” in FIRS’s broader transformation agenda. It aims to unify the taxpayer experience in all of its over 300 offices nationwide. The SOP intends to support voluntary compliance and national development.

Previously, FIRS field offices, while operating with good intentions, often employed different methods, leading to confusion among taxpayers. The new SOP seeks to eliminate these disparities by ensuring standardized procedures across all locations.

Commitment to Transparency and Service

Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of FIRS, emphasized that the SOP is more than just a technical document. It reflects the agency’s commitment to transparency and service to the Nigerian people. The revised SOP aligns with the ongoing digital transformation within FIRS, ensuring that both human and technological systems work together to deliver faster, more reliable, and taxpayer-friendly services.

The SOP is expected to enhance internal efficiency and staff confidence by providing clear guidance and promoting better training and evaluation systems. Every FIRS staff member is expected to study, implement, and embody the procedures outlined in the new document.

Streamlining Tax Payment and Collection

The FIRS aims to modernize its processes, improve tax collection efficiency, and foster a culture of voluntary compliance. This is geared towards strengthening revenue mobilization to support Nigeria’s development agenda. The SOP embraces technology to make tax processes smoother and more efficient, reducing wait times and minimizing interactions between taxpayers and officials. This will speed up processes while reducing errors and inefficiencies.

With these changes, the FIRS is positioning itself to better serve the Nigerian populace and enhance the overall economic climate through improved tax administration.