Tax (FIRS)
FIRS Tax Clearance Certificate: cost and timeline.
What a FIRS Tax Clearance Certificate really costs and how long it takes in 2026 — why there is no FIRS fee, where the real cost sits, and what controls the turnaround.
People searching for the cost of a FIRS Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) usually expect a single fee. There isn't one — FIRS does not charge for the certificate itself. The cost of a TCC sits somewhere else entirely, and the timeline depends almost entirely on how clean your tax position already is. This guide explains both honestly.
Why there is no FIRS fee for the TCC
The TCC certifies that you have already paid your assessed taxes for the last three years. It is a statement about money you have already paid, not a service you pay extra for. So FIRS does not levy a charge for issuing it. Anyone who tells you the certificate "costs" a FIRS fee is either mistaken or marking up.
That makes the TCC unusual among the documents on Docufy — there is no government fee to pass through, only the readiness work and the service fee.
Where the real cost sits
The cost of getting a TCC is in three places, and they vary enormously by company:
- Outstanding tax liabilities — if the three-year review finds unpaid CIT, VAT or WHT, you must settle it before the TCC issues. For most companies this is the largest cost, and it is money you already owed.
- Accounts preparation — if you do not have signed or audited accounts for the three years, preparing them has a cost (your accountant's fee).
- Service fee — what a filing agent charges to run the readiness check, file, and chase the application. On Docufy this is fixed and shown up front.
The timeline for a clean file
When the last three years are already filed and assessed with no outstanding balance, the TCC application is mechanical and issues in 5–10 business days. There is nothing to fix; FIRS just confirms the position and issues the certificate.
See live filing details on /catalog/FIRS.TCC and the FIRS hub at /agencies/FIRS.
What stretches the timeline
Almost every delay traces to one of these, discovered during the readiness check:
- A missing return — file the missing year, wait for it to be assessed, then apply. This can add weeks.
- An outstanding balance — settle it and obtain the receipt acknowledgement before re-applying.
- A TIN or CAC mismatch — usually a directors or address difference on the CAC record; fix the CAC record first.
Budgeting realistically
If your taxes are current, budget the fixed service fee and 5–10 business days. If you are behind, the honest answer is that the cost and timeline depend on how far behind — the catch-up taxes are the real expense, not the certificate. The cheapest TCC is one applied for by a company that has stayed current all along, which is exactly why an annual compliance cycle pays off. See the guide on renewing your TCC.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much does a FIRS TCC cost in 2026?
FIRS does not charge a fee for the TCC itself. The cost is any unpaid tax liabilities found during the three-year review, accounts preparation if you lack signed accounts, and a fixed service fee if you use an agent. The catch-up taxes — money you already owed — are usually the largest part.
Why is there no government fee for the TCC?
Because the TCC simply certifies taxes you have already paid. It is a statement about your existing tax position, not a chargeable service, so FIRS does not levy a fee to issue it.
How long does a TCC take?
For a clean file — three years filed, assessed, and no outstanding balance — it issues in 5–10 business days. A missing return or unpaid balance discovered during the check is what stretches it, sometimes by weeks.
What is the most common cause of delay?
A missing return for one of the three years. You have to file it, wait for the assessment, then apply for the TCC. An outstanding balance or a TIN/CAC mismatch are the other two common causes.
How do I get the cheapest, fastest TCC?
Stay current. A company that has filed and paid on time for three years has nothing to fix, so the TCC is just the fixed service fee and a few business days. An annual compliance cycle keeps it that way.
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