FIRS Intends To Start Charging Nigerians For Whatsapp Messages

Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has revealed their intention to start charging Nigerians for receiving SMS and Whatsapp messages that acknowledge their transaction on electronic platforms.

The fees would be paid in the form of stamp duties and would cover POS transactions, ATM transactions, and all electronic transactions in general.

The statement below was released by the FIRS on the new developments, “ABZ Ltd’s chief accounting officer, after receiving a cash payment of N500,000 from Mr. XYZ on behalf of ABZ Ltd., composed a message which reads: ‘receipt of N500,000 is hereby acknowledged’ and sent same to Mr. XYZ via WhatsApp messenger”.

“In this case, the WhatsApp message acknowledging the receipt of N500,000 constitutes a receipt for which stamp duty is payable.

“Mr. XYZ is required to make a disclosure of the details of the transaction using the FIRS e-stamp duty platform or to the relevant stamp duties Commissioner.

This will lead to assessment and payment of appropriate stamp duties and a consequential issuance of a stamp duty certificate or an acknowledgment.

“Such certificate or acknowledgment will suffice as evidence that stamp duties have been paid and that the electronic receipt has been stamped appropriately.”

“All electronic dutiable instruments or receipts”, including e-mails, short message service (SMS), instant messages (IM), any internet-based messaging service, are subject to stamp duty, the circular added.