Nigeria has taken a major step forward in digital trade with the global registration of its Tax Identification Number (Tax-ID) and the designation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the country’s official Peppol Authority.
With support from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the move places Nigeria’s Tax-ID under the ISO/IEC 6523 International Coding System, giving both individuals and businesses formal recognition in international transactions.
Peppol, a globally accepted framework for secure electronic document exchange, is already in use across Europe, Asia, and Australia. By joining this network, Nigerian businesses can now access faster payment systems, cut administrative costs, and compete more effectively on the global stage.
FIRS hailed the achievement as a turning point, saying it will simplify compliance, ease cross-border trade, and strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy. Under the new structure, Tax-IDs generated from the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) numbers for companies will now be globally referenceable—helping eliminate duplication, errors, and compliance bottlenecks across tax systems.
To drive the reform further, FIRS has introduced the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS), an e-invoicing platform that large taxpayers must adopt by November 1, 2025, with smaller businesses phased in later. The agency encouraged companies to validate their Tax-IDs, update accounting systems, and begin onboarding early.
“The launch of MBS is a landmark step in modernizing tax administration, closing compliance gaps, and aligning Nigeria with international trade and taxation standards,” FIRS said.
