Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC)

A TCC is an official document confirming a taxpayer has settled their tax obligations for the preceding three years. Nigerian businesses need one to bid for government contracts, obtain certain licences, apply for some visas, and complete many commercial transactions.

When you will be asked for one

  • Bidding for government or large corporate contracts
  • Applying for certain business licences and permits
  • Some visa applications
  • Property transactions and large financial dealings

How to get one

Apply to the authority you file with: your State Internal Revenue Service for individuals, FIRS for companies. You must have filed returns and paid what is due for the last three years, so a TCC application is often when unfiled years surface.

The practical lesson

Businesses that only think about tax when a contract requires a TCC find themselves unable to bid, because clearing three years of arrears takes time. Filing on time each year keeps the certificate a formality.

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