Nigeria Prepares for E-Invoicing Pilot in 2025
As part of its digital transformation efforts, Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced plans to introduce electronic invoicing, starting with a pilot phase for the largest taxpayers in the second half of 2025.
The pilot will be followed by a phased rollout, though the exact timeline for broader enforcement remains unconfirmed.
Proposed e-Invoicing Models & Requirements
Nigeria’s e-invoicing model emphasizes international standards, with invoices to be issued in the Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 format. Different requirements apply depending on the transaction type:
B2C Transactions
- Invoice Issuance & Reporting: Suppliers must report invoices to FIRS within 24 hours via an access point provider.
- Buyer Validation: Buyers may validate invoices using a QR code.
- Invoice Elements: Invoices must include:
- Seller details, invoice number, and date
- Description of goods or services
- Total payable amount and applicable taxes
B2B and B2G Transactions
- Invoice Clearance: Suppliers must send invoices to FIRS for clearance before issuing them to buyers.
- Invoice Elements: Required details include:
- Buyer and seller information
- Invoice number and date
- Breakdown of items (description, quantity, price)
- Applicable tax rates and total amount payable
Service Provider Accreditation
Service providers handling invoice exchanges must meet strict criteria, including the ability to apply Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) to ensure compliance and authenticity.
Stakeholder Engagement
FIRS is encouraging public feedback on the proposed system via a survey on its website, inviting stakeholders to share insights and suggestions.
As Nigeria moves closer to launching its e-invoicing system, further announcements are expected.
There’s more you should know about global e-invoicing changes – learn more about the new and upcoming regulations.
