KPMG Nigeria and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) on Monday, January 12, 2026, held a meeting aimed at addressing tensions that arose from differing analyses of the country’s newly enacted tax laws, the parties said in a joint statement.
The engagement followed public debate over perceived gaps and complexities within the reform framework.
The meeting was hosted by Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the NRS, who received a delegation of senior KPMG executives at the service’s headquarters in Abuja, according to the NRS.
The discussion followed earlier commentary by KPMG flagging “errors, gaps, inconsistencies and omissions” in the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) and related reforms, published in the firm’s newsletter.
In its statement, the NRS said the KPMG team commended Dr. Adedeji for his leadership and for the timely implementation of the new tax legislation, noting that “their initial apprehensions have been significantly allayed.”
The delegation described the reforms as “necessary and timely” and pledged to continue professional engagement in support of effective tax administration and national economic growth.
According to sources familiar with the engagement, KPMG executives sought clarity on specific provisions of the tax laws and outlined areas where they could make technical recommendations following constructive dialogue with NRS officials.
The firm reportedly expressed regret over any misunderstanding arising from its earlier critique and emphasised a shared interest in strengthening Nigeria’s tax regime.
The meeting comes amid ongoing debate over the implementation of tax reforms that took effect at the start of 2026. KPMG had earlier cautioned that certain provisions of the laws could undermine the attainment of reform objectives unless reviewed, particularly in relation to structural definitions and compliance requirements.
The firm’s analysis drew a rebuttal from the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, which said many of the issues identified reflected misinterpretations or differing policy preferences rather than errors in law.
In responding to KPMG’s initial observations, government officials acknowledged that some comments were useful for practical implementation considerations, but maintained that the reforms were the result of extensive consultations and aligned with broader economic policy goals.
They stressed that ongoing engagement with stakeholders would help refine administrative procedures and ensure the laws’ objectives—such as improved revenue mobilisation, simplification and harmonisation—are realised.
The NRS-KPMG meeting highlights the importance of dialogue between public authorities and private sector tax experts in facilitating understanding of complex tax reforms, as Nigeria seeks to strengthen compliance and broaden its tax base.
Observers said the outcome may support smoother transition into the new regime and encourage further professional collaboration on technical tax policy matters.
Next steps: Both KPMG and the NRS indicated plans to maintain communication and technical cooperation in the coming months to support implementation, clarification and potential refinement of the tax reform measures as needed.
