Compliance rarely fails because of one big mistake — it fails because of small, recurring deadlines that quietly slip. Here's a practical rundown of the filings every registered Nigerian business should be tracking in 2026.
Annual Returns
Every registered company and business name must file annual returns with the CAC, regardless of trading activity. Miss enough consecutive years and CAC can strike your company off the register entirely.
Tax Filings
Depending on your structure and turnover, this can include company income tax returns, VAT filings, and PAYE remittances for staff. Deadlines are typically monthly (PAYE, VAT) and annual (company income tax).
Sector-Specific Renewals
If your business holds a NAFDAC, SON, SCUML, or export licence, most of these require periodic renewal — not a one-time registration. Build renewal dates into your calendar the moment you receive the original certificate.
A Simple System That Works
The businesses that stay compliant without stress maintain a single calendar with every filing date, owned by one accountable person, reviewed monthly. If that sounds like more admin than you want to own, that's exactly what a compliance retainer is designed to solve.
Not sure how this applies to your business? Every situation has details that change the answer. Book a free consultation and we'll walk through your specific case.