Expert representation and compliance support for taxpayers facing State and Federal revenue authority audits across Nigeria.
Overview
Navigating Nigeria's Tax Audit Landscape
Tax audits conducted by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and State Internal Revenue Services (SIRS) — including the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) — are a significant regulatory reality for businesses and individuals operating in Nigeria. An audit can arise at any time — driven by discrepancies in returns, industry-wide investigations, or routine compliance reviews — and the consequences of a poorly managed audit can be substantial, including additional assessments, penalties, and reputational damage.
Phillip Eze Osuji & Co. brings decades of practical audit management experience to every engagement. We act as your authorised representative before the revenue authorities, ensuring that your rights are protected, your records are properly presented, and that any assessments raised are challenged where appropriate.
What We Do
Our Tax Audit Services
A structured, outcome-driven approach to every stage of the audit process.
Pre-Audit Review & Preparation
Before the auditors arrive, we conduct a thorough review of your books, tax returns, and supporting schedules to identify and address any vulnerabilities — giving you the strongest possible starting position.
Audit Representation
We interface directly with FIRS and SIRS officers on your behalf throughout the audit, presenting documents, responding to queries, and negotiating to achieve a fair and accurate outcome.
Assessment Objection & Appeal
Where additional tax assessments are raised that we believe to be excessive or incorrect, we prepare formal objections and, where necessary, pursue appeals through the Tax Appeal Tribunal or the courts.
Tax Reconciliation & Computation
We prepare comprehensive tax computations across all applicable heads — Companies Income Tax, Education Tax, VAT, Withholding Tax, PAYE, and Stamp Duties — reconciling these to your audited accounts and filed returns.
Compliance Health Checks
Proactive annual reviews of your tax compliance position — identifying gaps, correcting errors before they attract scrutiny, and ensuring your returns accurately reflect your trading activities.
Post-Audit Tax Planning
Once an audit is resolved, we help you restructure your tax affairs and internal controls to reduce future exposure, leveraging all available exemptions, reliefs, and incentives under Nigerian tax law.
Our Process
How We Manage Your Audit
- 01
Initial Briefing & Document Review
We meet with you to understand the scope of the audit notice, gather all relevant financial records, correspondence, and prior returns, and establish a clear picture of your tax affairs for the period under review.
- 02
Pre-Audit Risk Assessment
Our team conducts an internal audit of your books for the relevant years, identifying potential exposures and preparing remediation strategies before the revenue authority's examination begins.
- 03
Representation During the Audit
We attend all audit meetings as your authorised representative, managing the information flow to the revenue officers, challenging unreasonable requests, and ensuring the audit is conducted in accordance with the relevant tax statutes and FIRS/SIRS guidelines.
- 04
Negotiation of Agreed Tax Liability
Where there is a genuine tax liability, we negotiate the quantum of the assessment, applicable penalties, and interest charges — working to achieve the most favourable outcome for your business.
- 05
Resolution & Clearance
Once the audit is finalised, we obtain your tax clearance certificate and advise on any immediate compliance remediation steps needed to prevent a recurrence.
Scope of Coverage
Tax Types We Handle
Why Choose Us
An Advantage Built on Experience
Our principals have managed tax audits across multiple industries — from manufacturing and retail to financial services and the public sector — accumulating a depth of practical knowledge of how Nigerian revenue authorities conduct their examinations.
We understand the procedural and substantive requirements of the FIRS audit manual, the SIRS equivalent frameworks across all 36 states, and the Tax Appeal Tribunal rules. That knowledge translates directly into better outcomes for our clients.
- ✓ Authorised tax practitioners registered with ICAN and CITN
- ✓ Deep working knowledge of FIRS and all State SIRS procedures
- ✓ Track record of successfully reduced or eliminated additional assessments
- ✓ Transparent, fixed-scope engagement with no hidden costs
- ✓ Strict client confidentiality at every stage
- ✓ Rapid response — we mobilise within 48 hours of receiving an audit notice
