UgoEvery nation, including Nigeria, collects taxes from citizens to generate revenue. Tax professionals play a crucial role in the tax collection process.
If you are curious about the Tax profession in Nigeria, then you should know about the Chartered Institute of Taxation in Nigeria. That is what this article hopes to achieve.
In this article, I will explore facts about the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and how they can help you boost your career in tax in Nigeria.
About CITN
The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria initially started in 1982 as an association of tax administrators and practitioners.
In 1992, it was chartered by the federal government through Act No 76 of 1992 and tasked with the responsibility of determining the standards of knowledge and skills for tax practitioners in Nigeria
The CITN hopes to advance the tax profession in Nigeria in all ramifications.
Roles of the CITN
You might be wondering what the CITN does. I will go over their roles below;
- They determine the standard of taxation in Nigeria which would have to be followed by all tax professionals in the country.
- They also determine the standard of knowledge and skills for tax professionals in the country.
- They promote efficiency and ethical conduct among tax professionals in the country
- They provide training and certifications that boost the credibility of tax professionals while providing the practical skills to carry out the profession effectively.
How to become a member of CITN
To become a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, you must satisfy some basic requirements. These requirements include;
- You must possess a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
- You must also have completed the mandatory NYSC programme.
- You must have passed the qualifying CITN programme
There are various pathways to becoming a member of the CITN;
Graduate membership
To become a graduate member, you must have met the basic requirements of the CITN.
You also need to pass the qualifying examinations set by the CITN.
Associate membership
To become an associate member, in addition to being a graduate member, you have to gain at least 18 months of working experience in a tax-practicing firm.
This means that graduate members can become associate members by gaining the required work experience.
You can also become an associate member by applying for direct membership. Direct members are members who join the institute without passing the exams.
You can become a direct member by applying through the following steps;
- Visit the portal here;
- Click on “Apply for Direct Membership”;
- Complete the online form from step 1-6;
- Verify and Print your application.
- Click on “Proceed to Payment”
Criteria for direct membership
The following group of people are eligible for direct membership;
- Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) with a minimum of one year of tax working experience after becoming accredited members.
- Staff of some Tax authorities in Nigeria such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service and State Boards of Internal Revenue who have passed the JTB/FIRS final inspector of Taxes Examination. Such people would have to submit their final transcripts or certified true copies of their certificates to be considered by the institute.
- Applicants with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) membership. Such applicants would undertake a five-day conversion training on Nigerian Tax Law and Advanced taxation organised by the CITN tax academy.
- Applicants who have completed the Executive Advanced Diploma in Tax Administration and Management by the CITN Tax Academy and are duly certified by the Academy are also eligible to apply for Direct membership.
Fellow membership
To become a fellow, you must satisfy the requirements for associate membership and have, in addition up to 5 years of experience in tax practice.
You would have to apply with the institute to be conferred a fellowship.
Career opportunities for Chartered Tax professionals in Nigeria
To practice as a tax professional in Nigeria, you must have CITN credentials. Tax professionals usually have either educational or working experience in Law, Finance, Accounting, or related fields.
Professional qualifications in Tax can open doors to roles like;
- Payroll Specialist
- Tax consultant
- Tax analyst
- Tax accountant
- Tax Associate
- Tax manager
How CITN can help you start your career
There are various ways that the CITN can help kickstart your career as a tax professional. I would list a few of them.
- CITN provides training and mentoring programs that can undoubtedly boost your career prospects.
- By joining the CITN, you will be able to Network with other Tax professionals which is beneficial to your career.
- You would have access to publications by the CITN
- Getting certified by CITN also gives you credibility as a Tax professional.
All these perks would definitely enable your career growth.
Skills you need to succeed as a Tax Professional
So you are interested in becoming a tax professional in Nigeria. What skills do you need to achieve this? Becoming a successful tax professional requires a combination of hard and soft skills which I will now outline below;
Soft skills you need include;
- Proactive approach to problems
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Trustworthiness
- Problem-solving
- Resourceful and well-informed about trends and changes in the industry
Hard skills you need include;
- Understanding of tax laws
- Understanding accounting principles
- Computational and mathematical aptitude
- Ability to use accounting software such as Quickbooks, etc
Having these skills would enable you to thrive in the industry and perform excellently.
CITN Exam Structure
There are different levels of the CITN exams. They are detailed below with information on what to expect;
Foundation Exam
It has two sections.
- The first section consists; 20 multiple choice questions and 10 short answer questions.
- The second section is a theory section.
Professional Taxation 1
It consists of theory questions with one being compulsory
Professional Taxation 2
It also consists of theory questions with one being compulsory
How much does the CITN Exam cost?
| Exam | Total Fees |
| Foundation | N 38, 500 |
| Professional Taxation 1 | N 48, 500 |
| Professional Taxation 2 | N 54, 500 |
CITN subscription fees
The annual subscription fee for members is N7,500 for Associates and N15,000 for Fellows. Members are expected to pay this subscription fee following the rules and regulations of the institute.
How to renew your CITN subscription
To renew your subscription, take the following steps;
- Log on to www.citn.org
- Go to “member login”
- Log in with username/membership no email address and password.
- Click on the “RENEW” button to generate your bill
- Click on “Proceed to Payment” to generate your reference code.
- Pay online via Globalpay OR pay to the Institute’s First Bank Account – 2011351834 and scan your teller with the reference code to finance@citn.org
How to contact CITN
Below are the contact details of CITN;
Address- The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Tax Professionals’ House, Plot 16, Otunba Jobi Fele way, CBD, Alausa Ikeja, P.O. Box 1087, Ebute-Metta, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Tel: 09080888815
E-mail: citn@citn.org.
Website: www.citn.org
Conclusion
The CITN is a professional body that can help you start a career as a tax practitioner. Like many other professional bodies, CITN has its rules, regulations, and benefits.
This article has provided information enabling you to to become a tax practitioner by joining CITN. If you are a recent graduate, you can join CITN by taking the exams and becoming a graduate member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CITN have an MOU with ICAN
Yes. The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and Association of National accountant of Nigeria (ANAN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to standardize the practice of taxation in Nigeria on the 31st of May, 2021.
Members of ICAN and ANAN can also gain direct membership in CITN.
How do I check my CITN membership financial status
Login to www.citn.org
– Navigate to “member login”
– Log in with a username, membership number, e-mail address, and password.
– Click on the “RENEW” button to check your subscription outstanding due
How to apply for CITN exemption
To get a CITN exemption, you would have to follow the steps below;
- Go to www.citn.org
- Input your username and password in the “member login area”
- Click ‘Register for exemption’
- ‘Choose your qualification’
- You will be required to upload their credentials which have been duly endorsed by a financial member on the portal
- The page of the subjects you are to be exempted will automatically come up
- Students are to tick all the courses they intend to be exempted from.
- Click on ‘Proceed to payment’ where a 19-digit reference code will be generated.
Exemption fees are detailed below;
Foundation- N4,000
Professional Taxation 1- N4,000
Professional Taxation 2- N4,00
Ugo
