Contrary to some false insinuations, the new tax Act does not impose 25 % tax on building materials or funds , the chairman Presidential tax reform committee, Taiwo Oyedele clarified in his X handle on Sunday.
Puncturing the claim, he reaffirmed the “𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐀𝐜𝐭 2025 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚 25% 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬
Making reference to a recent video, Oyedele said:” We are aware of a recent video claiming that the new tax laws will commence in 2027 and alleging the imposition of a 25% tax on funds for building materials and other transactions.
“Both claims are incorrect. Contrary to the misinformation seeking to create fear, panic and disaffection, the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 has already commenced and does not impose a 25% tax on construction funds, bank balances, or business expenses. Instead, it contains provisions specifically designed to reduce the cost of housing, rent and real estate development”
He cited relevant provisions to make housing more affordable, encourage real estate development, and support small business property contractors and low-income renters include: 𝑳𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 c𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 v𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 p𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚 d𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝘝𝘈𝘛 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 (𝘚.185(𝘭)): Land and buildings are now specifically exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT).
𝘐𝘯𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘝𝘈𝘛 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴: Where VAT is chargeable on any materials or service, contractors can now recover VAT on their assets and overhead costs, which lowers overall construction costs.
𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘢𝘹 (𝘞𝘏𝘛): A lower 2% WHT rate is applicable on construction contracts, helping to conserve cash flow and reduce financing pressure on developers.
𝘓𝘰𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘚.30(2)(𝘪𝘷)): Mortgage interest is tax-deductible for individuals developing an owner-occupied residential house.
𝘋𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴 (𝘚.20): Property owners who earn rental income can deduct related costs such as repairs, insurance, and agency fees.
He cites provisions that offers d𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 re𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓 e𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 t𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 noting
“𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 (𝘚.30(2)(𝘷𝘪)): Individuals can claim relief up to ₦500,000 (20% of annual rent), increasing disposable income for low-income earners.
“𝘝𝘈𝘛 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘚.185(𝘭)): The VAT exemption on land and buildings also covers rent which is fully exempt from Value Added Tax. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘋𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 (𝘚.134): Lease agreements with an annual value below ₦10,000,000 (or 10 times the annual minimum wage) are exempt from stamp duty.
“Claims suggesting a new tax on building materials or bank funds are false and misrepresent the law. Rather, the new tax law specifically introduced measures to make housing more affordable, promote real estate development, incentivise manufacturing of building materials, and grant rent reliefs to tenants to enhance their disposable income” , he concluded.