Nigeria has recorded a major breakthrough in its digital trade transformation with the global registration of its Tax Identification Number (Tax-ID) and the recognition of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the country’s official Peppol Authority.
The achievement, supported by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), places Nigeria’s Tax-ID under the ISO/IEC 6523 International Coding System. This gives Nigerian individuals and businesses international recognition in cross-border transactions.
Peppol—an internationally accepted framework for secure and standardised exchange of electronic documents—is widely used in Europe, Asia, and Australia. With FIRS as the Peppol Authority, Nigerian businesses can now plug seamlessly into the network, enabling faster payments, reduced administrative costs, and stronger global competitiveness.
According to FIRS, the development will make tax compliance easier while boosting Nigeria’s credibility 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 stated.
Tax-IDs generated using the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) numbers for businesses will now be internationally referenceable. The initiative also cuts duplication, reduces errors, and harmonises tax records across federal and state levels.
In line with the reform, FIRS has also introduced the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS) e-invoicing platform. Large taxpayers must integrate with it by November 1, 2025, while medium and small businesses will join in phases. Companies are urged to validate their Tax-IDs, update accounting systems, and onboard quickly.
“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,” FIRS added.
