The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has announced that it will continue rolling out its electronic invoicing and fiscal system (EFS), also called the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS), to medium and emerging businesses.
According to the NRS, this move is part of its responsibility to improve tax collection, increase transparency, and encourage taxpayers to comply willingly.
What Has Happened So Far?
The e-invoicing system officially started for large companies on August 1, 2025, after several meetings and consultations with stakeholders. Later, the deadline for full implementation for large companies was extended to November 2025 to allow for a smoother transition.
Before the system went live, the NRS held engagement sessions with large taxpayers, tax consultants, and professional bodies to prepare them.
The Chairman of NRS, Zacch Adedeji, said that since the launch, most large companies have joined the platform, and many are already successfully sending their invoice data through the MBS system.
He explained that the rollout is supported by the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) and the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), which allow the NRS to use technology to manage and collect taxes and require taxpayers to adopt the fiscal system introduced by the Service.
How the Rollout Will Happen
The rollout will follow these stages:
- Stakeholder engagement
- Pilot phase
- Official launch (go-live)
- Post-launch review
- Compliance enforcement
Timeline for Each Category
1. Large Taxpayers
- Stakeholder engagement, pilot, and go-live: Completed
- Post go-live review: January – March 2026
- Compliance enforcement: April – June 2026
2. Medium Taxpayers (Annual turnover between ₦1 billion and ₦5 billion)
- Stakeholder engagement: January – March 2026
- Pilot phase: April – June 2026
- Go-live: July 1, 2026
- Post go-live review: October – November 2026
- Compliance enforcement: January – March 2027
3. Emerging Taxpayers (Annual turnover below ₦1 billion)
- Stakeholder engagement: January – March 2027
- Pilot phase: April – June 2027
- Go-live: July 1, 2027
- Post go-live review: October – November 2027
- Compliance enforcement: January – March 2028
Important Notice to Taxpayers
The NRS advised businesses to check which category they belong to and follow the timeline that applies to them. Taxpayers are encouraged to take part in all engagement and onboarding activities as announced by the Service.
However, the Chairman noted that the dates may change depending on operational readiness and feedback from stakeholders.
He also assured that the NRS will continue working closely with businesses and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the new e-invoicing system.
