Imagine you pay ₦1,000,000 to a vendor. Do you know how much to deduct as withholding tax (WHT)? Many startups, freelancers, and small businesses struggle with this. Use a WHT calculator so you don’t under-remit or overpay, and avoid penalties. In this 2025 Nigeria guide, I’ll walk you through what a WHT calculator is, the current deduction rates, how to file, when to file, and how your business can stay fully compliant (with Zaccheus making it easier).
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A WHT calculator is a tool that helps users compute the correct withholding tax to deduct from payments in Nigeria (e.g. contracts, rent, royalties) based on the applicable rate and then know when and how to remit and report it.
What Is Withholding Tax (WHT) in Nigeria?
Withholding Tax (WHT) is essentially an advance or “at-source” tax deduction. The payer (company, government agency, institution) must deduct a portion of certain payments before paying the vendor, and remit that to the tax authority.
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It acts as tax credit for the recipient, i.e. the deducted amount reduces their eventual tax liability
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In some cases (especially for nonresidents), the WHT is considered final tax i.e. no further tax on that income in Nigeria
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It is not an extra tax burden; it’s a mechanism for earlier collection and compliance
The FIRS official site lists common categories subject to WHT rent, dividends, interest, royalties, etc.
PwC’s summary confirms that WHT in Nigeria is applicable to these specified transactions and must be filed by the 21st day of the month following payment.
The 2024 Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations have updated earlier rules and formally take effect January 1, 2025 (though some parts may be applied early).
Why Use a WHT Calculator?
A WHT calculator is not just a gimmick, here’s why it matters:
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Accuracy & Compliance
You won’t misapply the wrong rate or miscompute the figure, which could lead to penalties. -
Time-saving
Especially if you have many vendors or contractors, doing it manually is error-prone and slow. -
Recordkeeping & Audit Trail
The calculator can help generate summary schedules you need when filing. -
Cash Flow Planning
You know exactly how much you’ll pay versus remit, so you can manage liquidity better. -
Avoids Over/Under Deduction
Under-deduction creates exposure; over-deduction burdens vendors and ties up cash.
In short, for any business, startup, or finance team, integrating a WHT calculator (or using platform that includes it) is a best practice.
2025 Withholding Tax Rates & Key Changes
Eligible Transactions & Rates
The 2024 Regulations list which payments attract withholding tax and at what rates for different types of recipients (residents, non-residents, corporate, non-corporate).
Below is a simplified table (2025) showing common categories:
| Transaction Type | Rate (Resident Corporate / Non-corporate) | Rate (Nonresident) | Notes / Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividends / Interest | 10% / 10% | 10% | Uniform 10% for these across the board |
| Royalties | 10% / 5% | 10% / 5% | Individuals get 5% rate |
| Rent / Hire / Lease | 10% / 10% | 10% | Same rate for all parties |
| Commission, Consultancy, Technical / Professional Fees | 5% / 5% | 10% | For nonresidents, higher rate |
| Supply of goods/materials (non-manufacturer) | 2% / 2% | N/A | New lower rate under regulations |
| Construction, building, related activities | 2% / 2% | 5% | The rate for residents reduced from 2.5% to 2%, for nonresidents increased in some situations |
| Directors’ fees | 15% | 20% | Increased rates under the new regulation |
| Entertainers / Sportspersons (nonresident) | — | 15% | New flat 15% as final tax |
| Winnings (lottery, gaming, reality shows) | 5% | 15% | New inclusion in the schedule |
Notes & caveats:
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For resident individuals, the rate for royalties is lower (5%) versus companies.
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Small companies exemption: Entities with turnover ≤ ₦25 million, unincorporated or similar, do not have to deduct WHT on supplier transactions of ≤ ₦2 million in a month, provided the supplier has a valid TIN.
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Double rate for unregistered recipient: If the payee (supplier) has no TIN for non-passive income, deduction is at twice the standard rate.
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New exemptions: Some items (like telephone charges, internet data, airline tickets) are added to the exemption list under the 2024 Regulations.
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Time of deduction: WHT must be deducted when payment is made or liability settles, whichever is earlier (for related parties, earlier of payment or accrual).
Thus, the WHT calculator logic must incorporate whether the supplier has a TIN, whether they are resident or nonresident, the type of transaction, and whether small entity exemptions apply.
How to Use a WHT Calculator (Step by Step)
Here’s a walkthrough:
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Input Gross Payment Amount
Example: ₦1,000,000 -
Select Transaction Type
e.g. “Consultancy / Professional Fees” -
Select Recipient Type
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Resident / Nonresident
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Corporate or Noncorporate
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Has TIN or Not
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Apply Rate Logic
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If small company and meets threshold, perhaps 0%
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If no TIN, double rate
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Otherwise use correct rate (e.g. 5%)
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Compute Withholding Tax Amount
E.g. 5% of ₦1,000,000 = ₦50,000 -
Compute Net Payable
₦1,000,000 – ₦50,000 = ₦950,000 -
Generate Summary / Schedule
Include vendor name, TIN, nature of service, invoice number, gross amount, WHT, net, month. -
Remittance & Filing Info
Provide message: “Remit ₦50,000 by 21st of next month to FIRS / State, file return, issue tax credit certificate.”
When & How to File / Remit WHT
Filing / Remittance Timeline
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WHT must be remitted not later than the 21st day of the month following the deduction (i.e. payment month) when due to FIRS.
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State IRS deductions: in some cases, different deadlines (10th or 30th day) for certain types like PAYE or capital gains.
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Failure to remit on time attracts 10% penalty on the WHT amount plus interest (per law)
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Returns must be filed alongside evidence of remittance via the format prescribed (Schedule templates)
Filing Process (via TaxPro-Max / FIRS Portal)
Below is a high-level flow:
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Log in to TaxPro-Max (or relevant FIRS portal)
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Select “WHT / Withholding Tax Returns”
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Fill the schedule form: vendor name, TIN, invoice, gross, WHT, net, month
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Upload proof or confirm remittance
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Submit return
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Obtain tax credit certificate (remitter issues to recipient)
You can find video guides that show step by step how to file WHT on TaxPro-Max.
Also, new regulations (2025) mandate a uniform template for returns and remittance, so the calculator should output in that format.
After remittance, the payer must issue a receipt + statement to the supplier with the same details (TIN, nature, amounts).
Penalties & Risks
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Failing to deduct: Payer liable for the tax + penalty
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Failing to remit: Payer liable for penalty + interest; in extreme cases, criminal liability
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Using wrong rate / wrong schedule: could lose credit for vendor or lead to audit issues
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Double taxation: Supplier may not get credit if records don’t match
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
| Pitfall | Explanation | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Using outdated rates | Many businesses still use old WHT tables | Ensure your WHT calculator is updated to 2025 Regs |
| Ignoring small entity exemption | Some think everyone must deduct | Add logic to check turnover ≤ ₦25M & transaction ≤ ₦2M |
| Supplier without TIN | Mistakenly applying standard rate | If no TIN for non-passive income, double rate applies |
| Late remittances | Miss the 21st deadline | Set reminders or automate via platform |
| Not issuing tax credit certificate | Vendors can’t claim credit | Always issue receipt/statement after remittance |
| Misclassifying transaction | Classifying “service” vs “supply” wrongly | Provide a clear dropdown taxonomy in your calculator |
| Nonresident oversight | Using resident rate for foreign entities | Always capture residency and treaty status in logic |
How Zaccheus Helps Automate WHT
At Zaccheus (usezaccheus.com), our built-in WHT calculator module does all this for you:
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Automatically applies the correct 2025 rate based on transaction type, recipient type, TIN status, etc.
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Flags when small-entity exemptions apply
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Generates schedules / report formats aligned with FIRS regulations
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Sets reminders and auto-fills your portal return
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Issues tax credit certificates to recipients
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Keeps audit-ready logs
With Zaccheus, you don’t need to worry about rate changes or missing deadlines, it all happens behind the scenes.
Conclusion & CTA
You now understand what a WHT calculator is, which rates apply in 2025, how and when to deduct and remit, and how to avoid pitfalls. The next step? Use a WHT calculator module ideally integrated with your accounting or finance system, so you stay compliant and worry-free.
FAQ Section
Q1: Is WHT a final tax or advance tax?
For most resident taxpayers, WHT is an advance payment, reducing final tax liability. But for certain nonresidents (with no Nigerian tax presence) on incomes like dividends, royalties, or rents, WHT is final tax.
Q2: If the supplier doesn’t have a TIN, can I still pay them?
Yes, but for non-passive income payments, you must deduct at double the standard WHT rate.
Q3: What if I deduct but forget to remit?
You’re liable to remit the deducted amount plus a 10% penalty and interest on the unpaid sum. In severe cases, legal or criminal consequences may follow.
Q4: Can a small business (turnover ≤ ₦25M) skip deductions?
Yes, if:
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The business has turnover ≤ ₦25M, and
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The supplier has valid TIN, and
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The monthly transaction ≤ ₦2M
In that case, no deduction is required.
Q5: How do new 2024 Regulations change WHT?
They introduced:
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Lower rates for many resident transactions (e.g. supply, services reduced to 2%)
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New categories (lottery, gaming)
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Higher rates for nonresident directors, entertainers
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Uniform templates for return & remittance
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Some newly exempt items (data, airline ticket)
Want to see how Zaccheus automates WHT, reminders, tax credit issuance, and full compliance in one dashboard? Sign up now at usezaccheus.com and get your first month free (or take a guided demo).