Tax experts have urged grassroots education on reforms and increased infrastructure investment to ensure seamless tax clearance filing nationwide.

They spoke on Tuesday at the National Policy Dialogue on Tax Reform and the presentation of the Nigerian Tax Survival Guide in Abuja.

Henry Egharevba, a researcher, said stronger tax infrastructure was vital, noting many taxpayers struggled to log into TaxPro Max accounts.

Mr Egharevba urged the Nigeria Revenue Service to simplify tax clearance filing, mirroring banks’ seamless online deposit and withdrawal systems.

Yewande Ogundipe, a legal practitioner and tax representative for 15 years, said filing had become more stringent since the new policy began.

“Now it is becoming more difficult, especially with the TaxPro Max system, where some taxpayers struggle to log into their accounts. I have had clients use nearly 15 email addresses just to retrieve login details and access their tax clearance certificates.

“When complaints are made, tax officers appear helpless, saying they cannot access every account or retrieve certificates. It has become a quagmire for those willing to pay taxes and obtain their tax clearance certificates,” Ms Ogundipe said.

She proposed regular forums for engagement between tax authorities and taxpayers to resolve emerging challenges.

Ms Ogundipe also called for stronger public enlightenment programmes to guide taxpayers through filing processes.

“There should be prompts to guide users on these electronic systems, which many are unfamiliar with. In Nigeria, tax-paying culture is still developing, so further orientation on payment processes is essential. These electronic systems should be upgraded to resolve issues quickly when they arise. Many are willing to pay taxes but cannot access certificates due to system challenges,” she said.

Okorie Ikechukwu-Raphael, the national leader of the Nigerian Traders, said traders faced literacy-related challenges in tax filing.

“Filing taxes is constrained by literacy levels in markets. However, we are engaging the Nigeria Revenue Service to develop simple templates that accommodate all traders.

“One month is insufficient for full compliance, but efforts are ongoing to register and integrate as many traders as possible. We urge the government to grant extensions for those yet to be captured in the system. This will enable traders to contribute meaningfully to national development,” Mr Ikechukwu-Raphael said.

Tajudeen Toyinoke, author of the Nigerian Tax Survival Guide, said the book addressed confusion around the new tax law.

“I explained the benefits, reliefs and simplified filing processes for the average Nigerian. For instance, businesses earning below N100 million now pay zero tax under the new law. Similarly, those on minimum wage are exempt, unlike under the previous law,” Mr Toyinoke added.

(NAN)