Minister Of Finance Issues Order On Significant Economic Presence By Non-Nigerian Companies

FGN Issues CIT (Significant Economic Presence) Order

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) on Friday, 29 May 2020 published the Companies Income Tax (Significant Economic Presence) Order, 2020 (“the Order”) in its Official Gazette No. 21, Vol 107 of 10 February 2020. The Order, which was signed by the Honourable Minister of Finance (HMoF), Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, pursuant to her powers under Section 13(4) of the Companies Income Tax Act, Cap C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 (as amended) [CITA], commenced on 3 February 2020.

1000
Wole Obayomi

Partner, Tax, Regulatory & People Services

KPMG in Nigeria

Email
Building

The Finance Act, 2019 (“the Finance Act”) introduced the concept of significant economic presence (SEP) to expand the scope of Nigerian tax on foreign companies deriving income from their activities in the country which were hitherto not captured in the tax net. The Order provides clarification on what would constitute a SEP for foreign companies doing business, or providing services to customers, in Nigeria, in line with Section 13(2)(c) and (e) of CITA.

Further to our Tax Alert Issue No 5.11, we have reviewed the Order and provided our commentaries thereon below:

  1. Determination of SEP for digital activities

The Order provides that a foreign company shall have a SEP in Nigeria in any accounting year, where it

a. derives N25 million annual gross turnover or its equivalent in other currencies from any or combination of the following digital activities:

i. streaming or downloading services of digital contents, including but not limited to movies, videos, music, applications, games and e-books to any person in Nigeria; or

ii. transmission of data collected about Nigerian users which has been generated from such users’ activities on a digital interface including website or mobile applications; or

iii. provision of goods or services other than those under sub-paragraph 5 of the Order, directly or indirectly through a digital platform to Nigeria; or

iv. provision of intermediation services through a digital platform, website or other online applications that link suppliers and customers in Nigeria.

Click to download and read more of this article.

© 2023 KPMG Professional Services, a partnership registered in Nigeria and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.


For more detail about the structure of the KPMG global organization please visit https://kpmg.com/governance.

Connect with us