How is crypto taxed in Nigeria?

Crypto tax in Nigeria now rests on a law that mentions digital assets by name. The Nigeria Tax Act 2025, part of a package of tax reform laws that took full effect on January 1, 2026, folds crypto gains into ordinary income tax. Crypto is legal to hold and trade, as the guide on how crypto is regulated in Nigeria explains, and that regulatory side is separate from tax.

Is crypto taxed in Nigeria?

Yes. Section 4 of the Act lists profits or gains from transactions in digital or virtual assets as chargeable income. Section 34 adds digital or virtual assets to the list of chargeable assets for gains purposes. So selling or otherwise disposing of crypto at a profit can create a taxable gain.

The tax authority is now the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which took over from the Federal Inland Revenue Service under a separate 2025 law.

What is the crypto tax rate in Nigeria?

Before 2026, gains were taxed at a flat 10% capital gains rate for individuals and companies. The new Act ends the separate regime, so gains form part of taxable income.

For individuals, PwC lists the personal income tax bands under the new law as:

• 0% on the first N800,000 a year
• 15% on the next N2.2 million
• 18% on the next N9 million
• 21% on the next N13 million
• 23% on the next N25 million
• 25% on income above N50 million

For companies, the Act sets 0% for small companies and 30% for others. Large companies may also face a 15% minimum effective rate and a 4% development levy.

The Act exempts gains on Nigerian company shares below set limits (proceeds under N150 million and gains of no more than N10 million in 12 months). That exemption is written for shares, not crypto.

How are crypto losses treated under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025?

The Act ring-fences them. Sections 27 and 28 say losses from digital or virtual asset transactions can be deducted only against profits or gains from digital or virtual assets. A crypto loss cannot cut tax on a salary or business profit from another line of work. The general idea is covered in crypto losses and taxes.

Residence matters too. Technext reported that residents are taxed on worldwide gains, while non-residents are taxed only on gains sourced in Nigeria.

Do crypto platforms report to the tax authority?

Reporting on the reforms says crypto service providers, which must register with the SEC, are expected to keep customer records and report users' transactions to the NRS, with fines for failing to do so. The details sit in the companion Nigeria Tax Administration Act. For how other countries approach reporting, see crypto tax around the world.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the tax authority or a qualified professional for your own situation.