FIRS tax exempt for licensed operators – Lottery Commission

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission has said that the Federal Inland Revenue Service tax is not applicable to licensed operators.

This was contained in a press release signed by the Director General of the Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila, on Friday.

The Commission was reacting to reports making rounds that FIRS has commenced direct collection of taxes from online gaming operators.

Gbajabiamila explained that FIRS tax only applies to remote gaming operators operating strictly outside the jurisdiction of Nigeria.

The statement read “The attention of the Management of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission has been drawn to several publications on various media platforms purportedly emanating from the Federal Inland Revenue Service with the caption ‘FIRS commences direct collection of taxes from online gaming operators’.

“These press articles have created uncertainty, panic and confusion in the Gaming Industry in Nigeria as to the propriety and justification of this new tax regime. 

“Therefore, it has become necessary for the NLRC as the Agency created by law to regulate Lottery/Gaming in Nigeria to make the following clarifications; Online Gaming Operators in Nigeria who are duly licensed and tax compliant are not subject to the tax referred to in the aforesaid publication, and the FIRS press release only applies to remote gaming operators operating strictly outside the jurisdiction of Nigeria.

“The NLRC deeply regrets any misconceptions these publications have caused to our esteemed Gaming Operators and other stakeholders in the industry in Nigeria.”

GOGAN TV