Who Must File VAT

You must file VAT if:

You run a registered business (individual or company)

You sell goods/services subject to VAT (7.5%)

Even if: 👉 You made no sales, you must still file “NIL return”

2. What You Should Do Right Now (2024 & 2025 Backlog)

Since you haven’t filed:

👉 You likely have outstanding monthly VAT returns

For example:

2024 → 12 months

2025 → Jan till now

3. Step-by-Step: How to File VAT in Nigeria

You file through the tax authority:

👉 Federal Inland Revenue Service

Step 1: Get Your TIN

You need:

Tax Identification Number (TIN)

If you don’t have one:

Register via FIRS or CAC

Step 2: Access the Filing Portal

Use: 👉 TaxPro Max

This is the official system for VAT filing.

Step 3: Prepare Your Records

For each month, calculate:

Output VAT (what you charged customers)

7.5% of your sales

Input VAT (what you paid on purchases)

VAT on expenses

VAT Payable:

👉 Output VAT – Input VAT

Step 4: File Monthly Returns

On TaxPro Max:

Select month (e.g., Jan 2024)

Enter:

Sales

VAT collected

VAT paid

Submit return

Step 5: Pay (If Applicable)

If VAT is payable:

Generate payment reference

Pay via bank or online

4. Penalties You May Face

Since you didn’t file on time:

Late Filing Penalty:

₦50,000 (first month)

₦25,000 for each additional month

Late Payment:

Interest + penalties

5. What If You Didn’t Do Any Business?

Very important:

👉 You STILL must file

Just file:

NIL VAT return

This avoids penalties.

6. Best Practical Approach (Since You’re a Beginner)

Don’t try to fix everything blindly.

Option A (Recommended)

👉 Meet a tax consultant/accountant

They will:

Compute your backlog

File correctly

Reduce errors/penalties

Option B (Do It Yourself – Carefully)

Start with:

2025 (current year)

Then go back to 2024

7. Simple Example

If in January:

Sales = ₦500,000

VAT (7.5%) = ₦37,500

Expenses VAT = ₦10,000

👉 Pay: ₦37,500 – ₦10,000 = ₦27,500

8. Critical Advice (Don’t Ignore This)

Don’t guess figures

Don’t skip months

Don’t ignore penalties (they accumulate)

👉 The earlier you regularize, the cheaper it is.

Bottom Line

VAT is monthly, not yearly

You likely have multiple unfiled months

Use TaxPro Max to file

Consider a professional to clean it up

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