NRS to content creators: register your business to enjoy tax reliefs
- The Nigeria Revenue Service told content creators in Lagos to register their businesses and get tax IDs.
- Officials said proper records are needed to claim incentives and win contracts from big firms.
- Small firms earning up to ₦100m a year can qualify for zero company income tax, the agency said.
Content creators and influencers who earn from social media were on Thursday urged to turn their hustle into a registered business, get a tax identification number and keep proper books.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) made the call at a tax policy session during the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2026 in Lagos, according to reports from the event.
The message matters for thousands of young Nigerians who earn from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and brand deals but run everything through personal bank accounts. Officials said that habit can hold them back from bigger money.
Why formalising pays
Kazeem Lawal, an Assistant Director of Tax at the NRS, said registering gives a creator a separate legal identity, makes the business look credible to partners and helps it outlive its founder.
Formalisation is what creates the pathway to growth and then sustainability in business,
he said.
Simeon Onyegbula, an Assistant Director in the agency's Field Operation Monitoring Department, advised creators to keep invoices, receipts and ledgers. He warned that personal spending cannot be passed off as a business cost.
Mustapha Akaje, Director of Government Business South Directorate, listed some of the reliefs on offer. Investments in eligible sectors, including the creative industry, can attract a 5 per cent tax credit on capital spending of at least ₦250m.
Companies with yearly turnover of no more than ₦100m and fixed assets below ₦250m may qualify for zero company income tax and exemption from the 4 per cent development levy, he said. Small businesses no longer need separate exemption certificates but must keep filing returns.
Lawal also said small businesses are relieved of some Value Added Tax (VAT) collection duties, though they can still be charged VAT on purchases. Anyone wrongly charged VAT can get a refund within 30 days without a prior audit, he said.
Mohammed Abubakar, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, cautioned that relief from double taxation abroad is not automatic and depends on existing tax agreements between Nigeria and other countries.
Obinna Ihedioha, Executive Director of People, Stakeholders and Communication, announced two new platforms: the NRS Investment and Tax Advisory Hub and the Creative Economy Tax and Investment Initiative. He said they will guide creators on registration, incentives and compliance.
Uncertainty is a tax nobody collects, but everybody pays,
he said, describing fear of penalties as a reason many creators stay informal.
What happens next
The agency said the new initiative will support tax education, business registration and policy dialogue, with possible rule changes where needed. Creators who register can expect closer engagement with the tax office, and the agency says it wants the formal route to be the easier one.
