[IN-FULL] FIRS Makes Clarification On Payment Of Stamp Duties In Nigeria

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has made a clarification regarding the payment of stamp duties in Nigeria

This is contained in a press release issued by the Executive Chairman of the Service, Muhammad Nami made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL)

“In response to requests by some tax payers seeking clarification on the current administration of Stamp Duties Act in Nigeria, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) hereby provides the following clarifications to guide tax payers and the general public:

1. Stamp Duty is a tax payable in respect of dutable instrument as provided under the Stamp Duties Act, CAP 58, LFN, 2004 (as amended). Such instruments include Agreements, Contracts, Receipts, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Promisory Notes, Insurance policies and other stipulated in the Schedule to the Stamp Duties Act.
2. Origin/Background of Stamp Duties in Nigeria: –Stamp Duties into effect as a result of Ordinance 41 of 1939. The Stamp Duties Act has undergone several amendments over the years up to the Finance Act of 2019. The most recent amendment recognised technology, e-commerce and cross border transactions in line with global practice and current economic realities.
3. Chargeable Transactions and Rates: – Stamp Duty is chargeable on both physical and electronic instruments in two ways i.e. Ad-valorem:- where duty payable is a percentage of the consideration on an instrument; or Flat Rate:- where a fixed sum is chargeable irrespective of the consideration on dutable instrument or document.
4. Table of Rates

5. Administration of Stamp Duties in Nigeria
6. Section 4(1) of the Stamp Duties Act provides that the Federal Inland Revenue Service shall be the only Competent Authority to impose, charge and collect upon instruments where such instruments relate to matters executed between a company and any person
7. ii. Section 4(2) of the Stamp Duties Act provides that the relevant tax authority of a state shall collect duties in respect of instruments executed between individuals.

• iii. In respect of banking transactions, the FIRS is vested with the powers to collect stamp duties on all bank transactions.

1. iv. As such, the powers given to the State Government through their respective revenue authorities to administer stamp duties by ensuring the assessment, collection and accounting for stamp duties between individuals into the State Government revenue accounts does not include banking transactions
2. The Stamp Duty Commissioner is appointed by the relevant tax authority (Federal or State) as prescribed by jurisdictional authority to administer the Act and to supervise the Stamp Duties office; adjudicating/assessment, stamping, the imposition of penalties where necessary, ensuring the security of stamped instruments, accounting for duties collected.
3. Payment and remittance of stamp duties on receipts:-

A fixed rate of N50 FIRS adherence stamp is applicable in respect of all receipts. A N50 Stamp Duty is also due from customers in respect of electronic transfers done by them through the Money Deposit Banks (MDBs) in Nigeria where the transfer is N10, 000amd above. The MDBs have the obligation to deduct and remit the stamp duties due on such transactions

7. Remittance of Stamp duties

• Money Deposit Banks shall remit stamp duties collected on behalf of the FIRS into the FIRS Stamp Duties Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria
• In the case of Ad-valorem, the stamp duty is chargeable at the prescribed rates and shall be remitted to the Stamp Duties Account of either the Federal or the State Government.

Please note that the stamp duties chargeable on all electronic transfers of money (including those initiated by an individual and received by another individual) through any Money Deposit Bank in Nigeria, shall be remitted into the FIRS Stamp Duties Account ONLY. This account is a Federation Account; the revenue accruing therein is distributed monthly to the three tiers of government in Nigeria (i.e the Federal, State and Local Governments) at the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings.

8. Burden of Payment
9. The burden of payment of stamp duties whether fixed or Ad-valorem is that of the beneficiaries of a contract, or Money Deposits Banks customers who transfer an amount of N10, 000 and above from his account to another customer’s account. In any case, the party making payment shall have the obligation to account for the applicable stamp duties
10. The MDBs, MOAs, Landlords, and other executors of chargeable transactions are only agents of collection whose duties are to ensure that the stamp duties due on each transaction is remitted to the Federal or State Governments stamp duties Account as and when due.

• It is the responsibility of MDAs, MDBs, Companies, Landlords, Executors etc. to ensure that service providers, contractors, tenants etc. pay stamp duties due on agreements, receipts and other dutable instruments

9. FIRS Adhesive Stamps vs Postage Stamp

It is necessary to state that postage stamp is administered by NIPOST for the purposes of delivery of items and documents. It does not denote duty and, therefore, not a substitute for the FIRS adhesive stamp which is produced for the sole purpose of stamp duty payment. Section 5(2) of the Stamp Duties Act provides that stamp duty may be denoted by an adhesive stamp. To this end, the Service produced and launched FIRS adhesive stamps for denoting stamp duty.

10. Penalties and Interest

Failure to deduct or remit stamp duties into the Federal or State Stamp Duties Account attracts penalty and interest as stipulated in the Stamp Duties Act, CAP 58, LFN, 2004 (as amended).

11. Conclusion

The FIRS is prepared to reposition Stamp Duties and make it the next major revenue source for Nigeria. As revenue from oil and gas continues to dwindling due to global fail in demand and price, indirect taxes such as Stamp Duty remain the viable and sustainable alternative revenue source for funding budgetary requirements by the Nigerian Government.

We hope that the above clarification and information on general or specific clarifications contained in the Stamp Duties Act and Public Notices by the Service would provide adequate information and guidance for the administration of stamp duties in Nigeria.