Monthly WHT Returns in Nigeria: Filing Requirements and Process

If your business deducts Withholding Tax from payments, you're required to file monthly WHT returns with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly known as FIRS. This guide explains the filing requirements, deadlines, and process for staying compliant.

WHT Filing Obligations

Who Must File

You must file monthly WHT returns if you:

• Deduct WHT from any payments during the month
• Are a company registered for WHT with NRS
• Make qualifying payments to suppliers, contractors, or professionals

Filing Deadline

WHT returns must be filed by the 21st of the month following the deduction month.

Deduction Month	Filing Deadline
January	February 21st
February	March 21st
March	April 21st
...	...
December	January 21st

Both filing and payment must be completed by this deadline.

Nil Returns

If you made no WHT deductions in a month, you should still file a nil return to maintain your compliance record.

What's Included in a WHT Return

Required Information

Your monthly WHT return must include:

1. Payer Details

• Company name
• TIN
• Address
• Filing period

2. Summary of Deductions

• Total WHT deducted
• Breakdown by tax type (if applicable)
• Number of recipients

3. Recipient Schedule

For each recipient:

• Name
• TIN
• Payment type
• Gross amount
• WHT rate
• WHT amount

4. Payment Reference

• Amount remitted
• Payment date
• Bank details

Step-by-Step Filing Process

Step 1: Gather Your Records

Compile all WHT deductions for the month:

• Supplier invoices
• Payment records
• WHT certificates issued
• Supporting calculations

Step 2: Prepare the Return Schedule

Create a schedule of all deductions:

Recipient	TIN	Payment Type	Gross Amount	Rate	WHT Amount
ABC Consulting Ltd	12345678	Professional	₦500,000	10%	₦50,000
XYZ Supplies Ltd	23456789	Goods	₦200,000	5%	₦10,000
John Contractor	34567890	Construction	₦1,000,000	5%	₦50,000
Total	₦1,700,000	₦110,000

Step 3: Calculate Total Remittance

Sum all WHT deducted:

• Professional fees WHT: ₦50,000
• Supplies WHT: ₦10,000
• Construction WHT: ₦50,000
• Total WHT to remit: ₦110,000

Step 4: File Online via TaxPro Max

Accessing the Portal

1. Visit taxpromax.firs.gov.ng
2. Log in with your TIN and password
3. Navigate to "File Returns"
4. Select "Withholding Tax"

Completing the Return

1. Select the return period (month/year)
2. Enter summary figures
3. Upload recipient schedule (Excel format)
4. Review all entries
5. Submit the return

Step 5: Make Payment

Payment Options

Option 1: Online Payment

• Generate payment reference from TaxPro Max
• Pay via card or bank transfer
• Receive electronic receipt

Option 2: Bank Payment

• Generate payment reference
• Visit any NRS-designated bank
• Pay with reference number
• Receive bank receipt

Step 6: Confirm Submission

• Download acknowledgment receipt
• Save payment evidence
• File with monthly records

Return Format Requirements

Schedule Format

NRS typically requires an Excel schedule with specific columns:

Column	Content
S/N	Serial number
Recipient Name	Company or individual name
Recipient TIN	Tax Identification Number
Payment Type	Category (Professional, Rent, etc.)
Invoice/Reference	Supporting document reference
Gross Amount	Pre-VAT payment amount
WHT Rate	Percentage applied
WHT Amount	Tax deducted

File Naming Convention

Use a clear naming convention:

[CompanyName]_WHT_[Year]_[Month].xlsx

Example: ABCLimited_WHT_2025_01.xlsx

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Late Filing

Duration	Penalty
First month late	10% of WHT due
Additional interest	At prevailing CBN rate

Under-Remittance

If you deducted WHT but didn't remit:

• 10% penalty on amount not remitted
• Interest from due date
• Potential criminal liability for significant amounts

Non-Filing

Persistent non-filing can result in:

• Additional penalties
• Enforcement action
• Audit scrutiny

Common Filing Scenarios

Scenario 1: Multiple Payment Types

If you have various WHT categories:

Payment Type	Total Gross	WHT Amount
Professional fees	₦2,000,000	₦200,000
Rent	₦1,000,000	₦100,000
Supplies	₦500,000	₦25,000
Construction	₦3,000,000	₦150,000
Total	₦6,500,000	₦475,000

File one return covering all payment types.

Scenario 2: Payments to Same Recipient

Multiple payments to one supplier in a month:

Date	Description	Gross	WHT
Jan 5	Invoice #101	₦100,000	₦10,000
Jan 15	Invoice #105	₦150,000	₦15,000
Jan 25	Invoice #110	₦200,000	₦20,000
Total for recipient	₦450,000	₦45,000

You can consolidate into one line or list separately—be consistent.

Scenario 3: Payments to Non-Residents

Include non-resident recipients in your return:

• Show full recipient details
• Apply appropriate rate (may be treaty-reduced)
• Include in total remittance

Scenario 4: Credit Notes/Adjustments

If you issued a credit note that affects WHT:

• Adjust in the current period's return
• Clearly document the adjustment
• Net off against other deductions

Reconciliation Before Filing

Monthly Checks

Before submitting, verify:

Check	Action
Certificates issued = Schedule entries	All deductions documented
Schedule total = Remittance amount	Numbers match
All TINs valid	No blanks or errors
Rates correctly applied	5% vs 10% vs others

Documentation Cross-Check

Ensure you can support every line item:

• Invoice or contract
• Payment evidence
• WHT certificate copy

Amended Returns

When to Amend

File an amended return if you discover:

• Under-reported WHT
• Incorrect recipient information
• Calculation errors
• Missed deductions

Amendment Process

1. Prepare corrected schedule
2. Calculate difference
3. File amended return through TaxPro Max
4. Pay any additional amount due
5. Include explanation for amendment

Record Keeping for WHT Returns

Required Records

Maintain for at least 6 years:

• Copy of each return filed
• Recipient schedules
• Payment receipts
• Supporting invoices
• WHT certificates issued
• Correspondence with NRS

Organization Tips

Create a monthly WHT file containing:

• Return submission acknowledgment
• Recipient schedule (filed version)
• Payment receipt
• Certificate copies
• Reconciliation workings

How Finora Automates WHT Returns

Finora transforms WHT filing from tedious to automatic:

Automatic Tracking

Every WHT deduction is tracked:

• Captured when you process payments
• Categorized by payment type
• Linked to recipient information

Return Preparation

With one click:

• Generate recipient schedule
• Calculate totals automatically
• Format for NRS submission
• Download in required Excel format

Deadline Reminders

Never miss a deadline:

• 7-day advance warning
• 3-day reminder
• Same-day alert

Reconciliation

Before filing:

• Compare certificates to schedule
• Identify discrepancies
• Ensure completeness

Historical Records

Access past returns:

• View any previous filing
• Download for reference
• Support audit queries

Payment Tracking

• Record remittance details
• Track payment status
• Maintain receipt copies

Tips for Efficient Filing

Prepare Throughout the Month

Don't wait until the 20th:

• Process WHT as you pay invoices
• Issue certificates immediately
• Keep records organized daily

Use Technology

Spreadsheets and manual processes lead to errors:

• Use accounting software
• Automate calculations
• Integrate with filing process

Verify Before Submitting

Double-check everything:

• TINs are complete and correct
• Calculations are accurate
• Schedule matches summary

File Early

Don't wait until deadline day:

• System issues may occur
• Payment processing takes time
• Buffer for corrections

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have no deductions this month?

File a nil return. This maintains your compliance record and prevents queries from NRS.

Can I file quarterly instead of monthly?

No. WHT returns in Nigeria are strictly monthly. There's no quarterly option.

What if I miss the 21st deadline?

File immediately with payment. You'll incur penalties, but continued non-filing worsens the situation.

How do I handle deductions made but not paid?

WHT should be deducted and remitted when you make the payment to the supplier. If you haven't paid the supplier yet, there's no WHT to remit.

What if a recipient doesn't have a TIN?

Request it. TIN is required for proper filing. If unavailable, document your attempts to obtain it.

Conclusion

Monthly WHT returns are a fundamental compliance obligation for Nigerian businesses. The process requires:

1. Tracking all WHT deductions throughout the month
2. Preparing accurate recipient schedules
3. Filing and paying by the 21st
4. Maintaining comprehensive records

Finora automates this entire process—from tracking deductions to generating returns to reminding you of deadlines—ensuring you stay compliant without the manual effort.

---

Simplify your monthly WHT filing

Get started for free and let Finora automatically prepare your WHT returns with one-click generation and deadline reminders.

Try Finora Free →