Small Business Tax & Bookkeeping — The 2025 Reform Edition
Nigeria’s 2025 tax reform, decoded for real small businesses — keep books that survive an audit, know exactly which taxes apply to you, and file on time without fear or a fixer.
by Sankofa Skills Studio · vetted expert author
What you'll gain
Master Nigeria’s 2025 tax reform on the actual numbers — the ₦100m 0%-CIT line, the real PIT bands, VAT and the phased e-invoicing timeline — keep a seven-ledger set that survives an audit, know exactly which taxes apply to you, hit every filing deadline, and spot the fake-official and ghost-consultant scams. The compliance backbone under every other hustle.
Pass a real exam and earn a publicly verifiable certificate employers trust.
Unlimited practice mode + spaced-repetition flashcards, then unlimited exam retakes.
Keep the lessons and every future update to this course, forever.
What you'll cover
15 modules · 35 lessons · timed certification exam
1. Start here: the reform, and your two guides 3 lessons
Why this course exists now, the whole 2025 reform on one screen, and the two business owners whose real numbers run to the capstone.
- Why this course, why now · 8 min
- Meet Chika and Emeka · 6 min
- The 24 terms this course uses (and how to use the vaults) · 6 min
2. Rung 1 · Know where you stand 3 lessons
Company or sole trader; the ₦100m line; which taxes apply to YOU; and whether you are even taxable at all.
- Company vs sole trader — the fork that decides your tax · 12 min
- Am I even taxable? The ₦800k and ₦70k rules · 7 min
- Checkpoint 1 — where you stand · 5 min
3. Rung 2 · What actually changed in 2025 3 lessons
The four Acts, FIRS becoming the NRS, the before/after engine, and the eight myths — named and killed.
- The four Acts and FIRS → NRS · 10 min
- The eight myths, named and killed · 8 min
- Checkpoint 2 — the new landscape · 4 min
4. Rung 3 · Get legal 3 lessons
CAC (BN vs LTD and the 0% CIT lever), your TIN via NIN, and the Tax Clearance Certificate.
- CAC: Business Name vs Limited Company — and the 0% lever · 12 min
- Your TIN is your NIN; and the Tax Clearance Certificate · 7 min
- Checkpoint 3 — legally set up · 4 min
5. Rung 4 · Keep books that survive an audit 5 lessons
Why the law and your own profit demand books; cash vs accrual; the seven ledgers; separating money; real-profit math; and the tools to do it.
- Why keep books (the law, and the truth about your profit) · 8 min
- Cash vs accrual, and the seven ledgers · 11 min
- Separate the money, and compute real profit · 8 min
- Monthly close, records retention, and the tools · 10 min
- Checkpoint 4 — books that survive · 4 min
6. Rung 5 · The taxes, decoded — companies 2 lessons
CIT at 0% or 30%, the 4% Development Levy, and Emeka’s ₦100m cliff, worked.
- CIT, the Development Levy, and the cliff · 9 min
- Emeka’s ₦100m cliff, worked · 8 min
7. Rung 6 · The taxes, decoded — you (PIT) 2 lessons
The six 2026 bands, the reliefs that come off first, and Chika’s bill worked slice by slice.
- The six bands and the reliefs · 11 min
- Chika’s bill, slice by slice · 8 min
8. Rung 7 · VAT decided 2 lessons
Charge it or not; 7.5% and the zero-rated vs exempt distinction; input VAT; and the compliant invoice.
- Do you charge VAT? (and zero-rated vs exempt) · 11 min
- The compliant VAT invoice · 7 min
9. Rung 8 · Employer duties — PAYE and pensions 3 lessons
If you have staff: PAYE by the 10th, pension within 7 working days, and why remittances are money you hold in trust.
- PAYE, pensions, and money held in trust · 11 min
- PAYE worked — two of Emeka’s staff, side by side · 8 min
- Checkpoint — employer duties · 4 min
10. Rung 9 · e-Invoicing, unpanicked 1 lessons
The phased rollout by turnover, who is in when, and what an SME actually does in 2026 (almost nothing).
- The phased rollout, and the myth killed · 7 min
11. Rung 10 · File and stay compliant 3 lessons
The compliance calendar, how to file each return, the penalty ladder, and the TCC.
- The compliance calendar · 8 min
- Filing, penalties, and the TCC · 7 min
- Checkpoint 5 — compliant and calm · 4 min
12. Rung 11 · The Scam & Failure Museum 2 lessons
Fake officials, forged clearances, illegal levies, non-remittance jail and ghost accountants — each with what is documented and what to do.
- Fake officials, forged TCCs, and illegal levies · 9 min
- Non-remittance jail, and the ghost accountant · 8 min
13. Rung 12 · The Money Map 1 lessons
One consolidated, sourced model: Chika’s tax as a share of profit, Emeka under vs over ₦100m, and the sensitivities.
- The consolidated model — both owners, to the naira · 11 min
14. Rung 13 · Launch capstone 1 lessons
Your Week-1 / 30-day / 90-day compliance plan, the year-1 master checklist, and a self-review rubric.
- Your staged compliance plan and the master checklist · 12 min
15. Rung 14 · After the certificate 1 lessons
The real authorities and bodies, reciprocal cross-links to the sibling courses, and teach-one-thing-forward.
- Where to go next, and who to trust · 7 min
Frequently asked
Is the certificate verifiable?
Yes. Every certificate carries a unique ID and a cryptographic signature. Anyone — an employer or a client — can confirm it instantly on our public verification page, with no login.
Who teaches this course?
A vetted expert author — Sankofa Skills Studio. Every expert course is reviewed and fact-checked before publication, and the author earns a revenue share on your enrolment.
How long do I have access?
Lifetime. Once you enrol you keep access to the lessons, practice mode and flashcards — including future updates to this course.
What happens if I don't pass the exam first time?
You can retake it. There's no attempt limit, and practice mode lets you rehearse with the same verified question bank until you're ready.
Can my team enrol together?
Yes. Talk to us about group and organisation rates — certifying a whole team is faster and cheaper than one at a time.
Continue your path
Learners taking this course often go on to: