The Nigerian government has directed commercial banks to immediately deduct a 0.375% stamp duty charge on all mortgage-backed loans and bonds.
Mortgaged-backed loans are facilities given by financial institutions to individuals entitled to acquire a home and repay over time with interest, while bonds are debt or securities issued by governments, municipalities, corporations, or other entities to raise capital.
The commercial banks sent messages to customers informing them of the new directive, saying that the Federal Inland Revenue Service will make the deduction.
The move indicates that the government is expanding the scope of stamp duty charges to include foreign transactions, loans, and regular bank transfers as part of tax authorities’ efforts to boost fiscal performance.
In January this year, banks were directed to deduct stamp duty on foreign transactions between January 2021 and December 2023 by January 31, 2024.
Before the new directive, electronic money transfer levy was charged only to accounts receiving electronic deposits of N10,000 and above or its equivalent.
One of Nigeria’s commercial banks, Access Bank, notified its customers of the new directives in a message on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
The bank clarified that the directive did not affect previously approved loans, which will still be repaid in full according to the agreed terms and conditions.
TimesNow.com.ng previously reported that Nigerian banks have begun full implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s revised guidelines on international money transfer operations in the country.
The CBN released revised guidelines for the operations of International money transfer operators (IMTOs) and instructed banks to begin paying dollars and other foreign currency payouts from abroad in naira to boost forex supply and starve the black market traders.
The apex bank also noted that the exchange rate for the naira payment shall be at the prevailing rate in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
