The Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT or “the Tribunal”) sitting in Lagos on Wednesday, 13 November 2019, delivered judgement in the case between Allan Gray Investment Management Nigeria Limited (“the Appellant”) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The main issue for determination was whether the services rendered by the Appellant to its non-resident parent company qualified as “exported services” under the Value Added Tax Act, Cap. V1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (“VAT Act”) and, therefore, exempted from VAT.
The Appellant had executed a marketing and distribution agreement with its parent, Allan Gray International (Pty) Limited (AGI), an investment management company incorporated and resident in South Africa. The agreement required the Appellant to market and distribute AGI’s African Equity Funds in Nigeria for a fee. The Appellant, therefore, considered its services to AGI as exported services which should be exempted from VAT.
Having considered arguments of both parties, the TAT held that:
The judgement raises fundamental questions on when a non-resident company will be characterized as legally present or doing business in Nigeria, and what will qualify a service performed by a Nigerian company for a non-resident company as an exported service for VAT purposes.
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