By Adedapo Adesanya
Value Added Tax (VAT) payments made in Nigeria rose by 14.2 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 to N1.78 trillion from the N1.56 trillion recorded in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
VAT is a consumption tax levied on goods and services, usually at each stage of production or distribution where value is added. In Nigeria, VAT is currently at 7.5 per cent as amended in the Finance Act of 2019.
A breakdown showed that local payments recorded were N922.87 billion, Foreign VAT Payments were N448.85 billion, while import VAT contributed N410.62 billion in Q3 2024.
However, on a year-on-year basis, VAT collections in Q3 2024 increased by 88 per cent from Q3 2023
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, human health and social work activities recorded the highest growth rate with 250.4 per cent, followed by the activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use with 102.1 per cent.
On the other hand, water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities had the lowest growth rate with a negative 41.9 per cent drop, followed by activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies with 36.1 per cent.
In terms of sectoral contributions, the top three largest shares in Q3 2024 were manufacturing with 22.2 per cent; information and communication with 20.9 per cent; and mining & quarrying activities with 18.9 per cent.
Nevertheless, the NBS data showed that activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use recorded the least share with 0.01 per cent, followed by activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies with 0.01 per cent and water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities with 0.03 per cent.
In a related development, Company Income Tax (CIT) for the quarter under review was reported at N1.77 trillion, indicating a slump of 28.2 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis from N2.47 trillion in Q2 2024. However, on a year-on-year basis, CIT collections in Q3 2024 increased by 1.37% from Q3 2023.
CIT refers to taxes imposed on the profit of companies domiciled in the country. It is charged on net profit after other expenses and deductions have been removed from the revenue.
Local payments received in Q3 were N920.91 billion, while Foreign CIT Payment contributed N852.29 billion in Q3 2024.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply recorded the highest growth rate with 47.5 per cent, followed by public administration and defence and compulsory social security with 19.3 per cent.
On the other hand, accommodation and food service activities had the lowest growth rate as it receded by 73.3 per cent, followed by financial and insurance activities with a 70.0 per cent slide.
In terms of sectoral contributions, the top three largest shares in Q3 2024 were manufacturing with 25.5 per cent, followed by mining and quarrying with 18.4 per cent; and information and communication with 15.1 per cent.
Nevertheless, the activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use recorded the least share with 0.004 per cent, followed by water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities with 0.03 per cent and Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies with 0.08 per cent.