The FIRS e-invoicing platform, which went live on August 1, 2025, after a successful pilot phase that began in November 2024, was designed to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration, curb evasion, and enhance transparency in revenue generation. It also provides the FIRS with real-time visibility into commercial transactions, ensuring authenticity and completeness of invoices.

According to a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser on Media to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, at least 1,000 companies, representing 20% of more than 5,000 eligible firms, have already adopted the system and begun integrating with the FIRS platform.

Adekanmbi noted that the initiative, also known as the Merchant-Buyer Model, will be rolled out in phases.

“Large taxpayers, which are companies with annual turnover of N5 billion and more, are expected to be the first to be onboarded on the platform,” he said.

FIRS revealed that MTN Nigeria was the first taxpayer to transmit live electronic invoices to the platform, while Huawei Nigeria and IHS Nigeria have concluded test transmissions and are expected to go live soon.

The agency added that the initial compliance deadline of August 1, 2025, has been extended by three months to accommodate companies currently facing onboarding challenges. The new deadline is now November 1, 2025.

Designed under the Merchant-Buyer Model, the platform promises to make tax compliance faster, more transparent, and more efficient for businesses.

What makes this rollout remarkable is that MTN Nigeria became the first taxpayer in the country to transmit live electronic invoices to the FIRS, effectively kicking off the e-invoicing era.

Huawei Nigeria and IHS Nigeria quickly followed, having successfully completed test transmissions and now poised to go fully live.

The platform, which went live on August 1 after a successful pilot phase that began in November 2024, is being deployed first to large taxpayers, companies with an annual turnover of ₦5 billion and above.

In less than two weeks, over 1,000 companies, representing 20% of the 5,000 eligible firms, have already begun integration with the FIRS Merchant-Buyer System (MBS) platform. The rest are expected to complete onboarding before the November 1 deadline.

“In collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), we have incorporated service providers as both System Integrators and Access Point Providers to facilitate onboarding, integration, and invoice transmission,” explained Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser on Media to FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji.

FIRS commended early adopters like MTN Nigeria, Huawei Nigeria, and IHS Nigeria for demonstrating leadership and commitment to voluntary compliance.

The service also announced a three-month extension to the onboarding deadline, now set for November 1, 2025, to allow more companies to meet operational requirements.

The e-invoicing solution, part of the National Electronic Fiscal System (EFS), provides real-time visibility into commercial transactions, ensuring the authenticity, accuracy, and completeness of invoices.

By aligning with global best practices, it supports the Federal Government’s revenue assurance drive, reduces tax evasion, and modernises tax administration in line with the Nigeria Revenue Services Reform Act.

With pioneers like MTN, Huawei, and IHS setting the pace, FIRS is confident that the new system will lay the foundation for a single, harmonised source of truth for government revenue, and a more transparent business environment for Nigeria.