Most Nigerians have no idea how much of their salary the government actually takes. You see ₦500,000 on your offer letter and assume that is what hits your account. It is not. Between PAYE tax, pension contributions, National Housing Fund (NHF), and other deductions, your actual take-home pay can be significantly lower — sometimes by 20–30%.
This guide breaks down exactly how to calculate your take-home salary in Nigeria under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which took effect from January 2026 and introduced the most significant changes to personal income tax in over a decade.
Quick answer: Use the NaijaHub free salary calculator to get your exact take-home pay in seconds. This article explains the maths behind it.
The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (signed into law in 2025, effective January 2026) made three major changes to how personal income tax is calculated in Nigeria:
1. Consolidated Relief Allowance (CRA) was abolished. Under the old system, everyone got an automatic CRA deduction of ₦200,000 plus 20% of gross income before tax was calculated. This is gone.
2. The tax-free band increased to ₦800,000 annually. The first ₦800,000 of your annual income (approximately ₦66,667 per month) is now completely tax-free. This is a significant increase from the previous threshold and benefits lower-income earners the most.
3. Rent relief was introduced. You can now deduct 20% of annual rent you actually pay, capped at ₦500,000 per year. This is a new relief that did not exist under the old system.
| Annual Taxable Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| First ₦800,000 | 0% — completely tax-free |
| ₦800,001 – ₦3,000,000 | 15% |
| ₦3,000,001 – ₦12,000,000 | 18% |
| ₦12,000,001 – ₦25,000,000 | 21% |
| ₦25,000,001 – ₦50,000,000 | 23% |
| Above ₦50,000,000 | 25% |
This is the figure on your offer letter or payslip before any deductions. For this example, we will use ₦500,000 per month (₦6,000,000 per year).
Under the Pension Reform Act, employees contribute a minimum of 8% of their gross salary to a Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Your employer adds at least 10% on top. The employee portion is deducted from your gross pay before tax is calculated, which reduces your taxable income.
The National Housing Fund (NHF) is a 2.5% deduction on basic salary, applicable to Nigerians earning above the national minimum wage who are employed in the public or formal private sector. It is also deductible before tax.
If you pay rent, you can deduct 20% of your annual rent from your taxable income, up to a maximum of ₦500,000 per year. This relief is only available if you actually pay rent and can document it. For someone paying ₦1,800,000 per year in rent: 20% = ₦360,000 deduction.
Annual gross: ₦3,600,000 | Pension: ₦24,000/mo | No NHF | No rent relief
Taxable income: ₦3,120,000/year
Tax: ₦0 (first ₦800K) + ₦330,000 (next ₦2.2M at 15%) + ₦21,600 (₦120K at 18%) = ₦351,600/year = ₦29,300/month
Take-home: ₦300,000 − ₦24,000 − ₦29,300 = ₦246,700/month
Annual gross: ₦1,800,000 | Pension: ₦12,000/mo | No NHF
Taxable income: ₦1,656,000/year
Tax: ₦0 (first ₦800K) + ₦128,400 (₦856K at 15%) = ₦128,400/year = ₦10,700/month
Take-home: ₦150,000 − ₦12,000 − ₦10,700 = ₦127,300/month
Forgetting that pension reduces your taxable income. Many people calculate tax on their full gross salary and end up with a higher figure than they should. Pension comes off first.
Not claiming rent relief. The new rent relief deduction is brand new in 2026. Many employees and even some HR departments are not aware of it yet. If you pay rent, ensure your employer factors it into your tax computation.
Assuming the same formula applies everywhere. PAYE is collected by State Internal Revenue Services, not the federal government. Lagos State (LIRS), Rivers State (RIRS), and others may have slightly different processing timelines and compliance requirements, though the federal tax bands apply across all states.
If you are self-employed, a freelancer, or run your own business, the same tax bands apply — but you file your own returns directly with your State Internal Revenue Service annually. The deadline is typically June 30 each year. You are responsible for calculating and paying your own tax, including making pension contributions voluntarily if you choose.
As of 2026, Nigeria's minimum wage is ₦70,000 per month (₦840,000 annually). After pension of ₦5,600/month, the taxable income falls just above the ₦800,000 tax-free threshold. The annual tax liability for a minimum wage earner is approximately ₦6,000 — about ₦500 per month. This means minimum wage workers effectively pay almost no income tax under the new system.
Rather than doing these calculations manually, use the free NaijaHub salary calculator which is updated for the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. Enter your gross salary, pension, rent and NHF to get your exact take-home pay, effective tax rate, and monthly breakdown in seconds.