Clearance
Form CL-01 · 2026 Fiscal Reform Ready

Know exactly what your Nigerian business owes — before the fine arrives.

Answer 4 simple questions about your stage, staff count, and sector. Clearance stamps out a custom regulatory dossier built for your company — not a confusing 50-page government gazette.

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No signup required  ·  ✓ 2-min intake

Live Sample Dossier

Growth Stage

Tech Startup (6 staff, ₦60M Turnover)

ITF RequiredNSITF RequiredCIT — 0% Small

This business crossed the ITF threshold without realizing it. Having 5 staff or ₦50M turnover triggers mandatory annual filing with the Industrial Training Fund.

Potential Default: ₦600k/yrRun yours →

The Cost of Unchecked Compliance

Why Nigerian businesses get caught off guard

Avoid penalties before regulators audit

ITF Payroll Trap

5 Staff or ₦50M

Crossing either threshold triggers mandatory 1% payroll contribution and a 5% monthly compounding default fee.

Small Business CIT

0% Rate Tier

Under the 2026 reform, qualifying small businesses pay 0% CIT, but missing annual nil-returns still leads to penalties.

Data Privacy (NDPA)

₦10M+ Fines

Collecting customer phone numbers, emails, or KYC without basic data governance risks severe NDPC enforcement.

Bank Account Freezes

PND Orders

Regulators regularly freeze corporate bank accounts of companies with delinquent CAC annual returns or tax defaults.

Feature 01 · Intelligent Intake

The Smart Compliance Checklist Engine

Nigerian business laws are fragmented across dozens of separate agencies — CAC, FIRS/NRS, ITF, NSITF, NHF, NDPC, and state revenue services.

Our engine evaluates your business specifics in seconds and generates an actionable clearance dossier showing what is strictly required, what needs verification under the 2026 reform, and how to remedy missed deadlines.

Personalized stage derivation (Pre-formation to Scaling)
Tactile 'Required' vs 'Verify' confidence stamps
Specific penalty calculations and official remediation steps
Dossier InspectionForm CL-01
CAC Annual ReturnsMandatory

Must be filed by 30th June every year after incorporation to prevent inactive status.

Employees Compensation (NSITF)1% Payroll

Covers workplace accident compensation for all formal employees.

NDPA Data Protection FilingIf Handling Data

Mandatory data audit filing for entities processing customer personal data.

Tax Simulator Engine2026 Fiscal Code
Annual Gross Salary:₦3,500,000
Rent Relief Deduction:- ₦120,000

Estimated Net Tax

₦214,000

Effective: 6.1%

Take-Home: ₦3.28M

Feature 02 · Tax Simulator

2026 Nigerian Tax Reform Calculator

Nigeria's new fiscal tax legislation completely overhauls individual brackets, company income tax thresholds, rent relief, and development levies.

Estimate your exact Personal Income Tax (PIT) or Corporate Income Tax (CIT) in real time. Model your statutory deductions, assess small business 0% exemptions, and know your rights before filing.

Calculates rent relief, pension, and NHF deductions
Identifies small business 0% CIT and Development Levy waivers
Clear breakdown of deadlines, penalties, and taxpayer rights
Feature 03 · Industry Vault

Sector Documents & Licensing Directory

Beyond standard company registration, virtually every industry in Nigeria requires special permits — from CBN and SEC licenses in fintech to NAFDAC in health, or local trading permits for physical commerce.

Explore comprehensive regulatory profiles across 11 key industries, complete with required documents per stage, legal benefits, and consequences of operating uncertified.

Fintech & PaymentsHealthtech & PharmaEdtechE-Commerce & LogisticsProfessional ServicesFreelancers & SolopreneursRetailers & TradersNGOs & Faith Orgs
Sector Sample: FintechCBN / NDPC / SEC
Central Bank of Nigeria

CBN PSP / PSSP Approval in Principle

Essential for payment processing; avoids shutdown or blacklisting of partner bank integrations.

FCCPC Consumer Protection

Digital Lending Registration

Protects against app store removals, payment gateway freezes, and enforcement actions.

Verified .gov.ng PortalsDirect Links

CAC CRP Portal

Company registration & Annual returns

Verified ↗

NRS / FIRS TaxPro-Max

TIN generation, CIT & VAT filing

Verified ↗

LIRS eTax System

State PAYE & Individual Direct Assessment

Verified ↗

ITF Payment Gateway

1% payroll training contribution

Verified ↗
Feature 04 · Physical & Digital Access

Portals & Nearest Office Locator

Middlemen agents often charge exorbitant markups for basic self-service filings. Worse, spoofed phishing portals mimic government sites to steal banking details.

Access official, encrypted `.gov.ng` endpoints or use our GPS proximity locator to pinpoint the nearest physical CAC, NRS/FIRS, State IRS, and ITF branches closest to you.

Feature 05 · Founder Knowledge

Plain-English Compliance Blog

No legal jargon, no impenetrable legalese. We break down the exact laws that trip up Nigerian founders, starting with the myth cleared up first.

Learn why a Business Name won't protect your personal savings, how to handle the ITF 5-staff rule, and what the 2026 fiscal amendments actually mean for your bottom line.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to the questions founders and finance leads ask most.

Do I need to register for ITF if I have fewer than 5 staff?

If you have fewer than 5 staff AND your annual turnover is under ₦50M, ITF is not mandatory. However, once your turnover hits ₦50 million or your payroll reaches 5 employees (including regular contractors), registration is strictly required by law.

Are small businesses really exempt from Companies Income Tax (CIT)?

Yes, companies qualifying as 'Small Companies' under the 2026 fiscal framework enjoy a 0% CIT rate and exemption from the Development Levy. However, you must still file annual tax returns and register for VAT if applicable.

What is the biggest mistake founders make when registering a Business Name vs Ltd?

Business Names (Part B) carry unlimited personal liability — your personal assets can be seized for business debts. Furthermore, institutional investors, enterprise clients, and certain tech licenses (like CBN PSP) require an Incorporated Company (Ltd).

Is Clearance a law firm or tax agency?

Clearance is a free compliance intelligence platform designed to decode Nigerian regulatory obligations into plain-English checklists. We provide direct links to official government portals so you can file yourself or verify what your consultants are doing.

Get Compliant In Minutes

Protect your business before the next audit cycle.

No legal fees, no government delays, no surprise fines. Generate your custom clearance checklist now.