Nigeria Introduces E-Invoicing Platform Ahead of Nationwide Mandate
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of Nigeria has officially launched the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS), a national e-invoicing platform designed to support the issuance of compliant electronic invoices. This development marks a critical step in the implementation of Nigeria’s forthcoming e-invoicing mandate and provides the necessary infrastructure to support a phased rollout.
Phased Implementation of the E-Invoicing Mandate
As previously announced, the introduction of mandatory e-invoicing in Nigeria will begin with a pilot program targeting the country’s largest taxpayers, expected to start in July 2025. The initiative will then expand to cover medium and small-sized businesses. With the MBS platform now operational, the technical framework is in place for all VAT-registered businesses in Nigeria to begin issuing e-invoices in alignment with Section 25, Part 5 of the Tax Administration and Enforcement Act of 2007.
Technical Requirements and Functionality of the MBS Platform
To access the MBS system, taxpayers must first register by submitting the required information through the official FIRS MBS Portal. Once enabled, businesses may issue e-invoices either directly within the portal or by integrating their systems using the MBS e-invoice API.
E-invoices are required to be generated in either XML or JSON format and must follow the data structure specified in the official e-invoice schema.
The platform operates on a pre-clearance model, under which invoices are validated by the MBS system before being transmitted to the buyer. Each invoice is assigned a unique identifier upon clearance. Both the buyer and seller receive notifications once the invoice is approved, and either party retains the ability to cancel or reject the cleared invoice.
Additional information on the use of the MBS platform can be found on the official FIRS website.
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