The Traffic

FIRS Rolls Out New Nationwide SOP to Standardize Tax Services and Eliminate Confusion

By Achimi muktar 

ABUJA — In a sweeping reform aimed at wiping out decades of tax confusion and inconsistency, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has launched a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) designed to bring clarity, transparency, and uniformity to tax services across Nigeria’s 300+ FIRS offices.

The move is being hailed as a major shakeup in Nigeria’s tax system — and one that could finally make paying taxes less painful and more predictable for individuals and businesses nationwide.

“This is about people, experience, and impact. It’s a step toward a tax system that supports voluntary compliance and national development,” said Mr. Collins Omokaro, Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy to the FIRS Executive Chairman.

Until now, many taxpayers have faced different rules and processes depending on which FIRS office they visited — a situation that often led to confusion, delays, and, in some cases, costly mistakes.

The newly introduced SOP eliminates this inconsistency by establishing a single, unified playbook for key processes like:

Taxpayer registration

Tax payment

Audits

Enforcement actions

This means whether you’re in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, or Jos, your tax experience should now follow the same clear steps.

FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, called the SOP much more than a technical document — it’s a symbol of the agency’s transformation.

“This SOP is not just a set of rules. It is a declaration of who we are becoming as a service,” he said. “It reflects our commitment to transparency and service to the Nigerian people.”

The SOP also supports FIRS’s ongoing digital transformation, blending tech with human efficiency to make tax services faster and more reliable. From filing to follow-ups, every part of the taxpayer journey is now being streamlined.

Less guesswork: Clearer processes mean fewer surprises for taxpayers

Faster service: Unified procedures will speed up processing and cut red tape

Fairer treatment: No more differing rules across different offices

Stronger trust: A predictable tax system builds public confidence

“With this rollout, every FIRS staff member has a clear mandate: study it, apply it, and embody it,” Omokaro emphasized. “That’s how we’ll earn the trust of Nigerians.”

This reform is part of FIRS’s broader goal to transform from a tax-collecting body into a citizen-focused, service-driven institution. The agency hopes this new SOP will help boost voluntary compliance and play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic development.

So the next time you walk into a tax office, don’t expect the usual headache — FIRS is betting big that you’ll notice the difference.