By
ALATOYE, Folorunso Azeez, FCA
Partner /Chief Operations Officer
Saffron Professional Services
At the end of this session, participants should be able to:
•
Identify the tax regulations in the petroleum industry
•
Discuss the need for the reform
•
Recognise the changing Structure,
expectations of the key stakeholders ; and
•
Appraise the business impact of the reform.
2
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Overview of the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry
Tax Reform in the Petroleum Industry
National Oil & Gas Policy
The Petroleum Industry Bill (Act)
The Implication of reforms on foreign investment and government
revenue
Opportunities and Challenges of implementing the fiscal provisions
Case study
Conclusion
3

Oil and Gas Industry sectors:
◦ Upstream
 Exploration
 Production
◦ Midstream
 Refining
◦ Downstream
 Retail

This session will focus on upstream oil and gas industry.
4
◦ 283 trillion standard cubic feet of proven gas reserves in
custody {only 25billion+ barrels of oil to become 40b
barrels by 2010}!
 Africa in all has 500 trillion standard cubic ft. against
Europe & North America Reserve of 450 trillion standard
cubic ft.
◦ 65 trillion standard cubic feet of recoverable undiscovered
reserves
◦ 3rd largest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the
world
◦ 12th largest major gas reserve country in world
◦ By 2015, Nigeria/WA to supply 1.8 trillion scf. to U.S {1/3rd
of its import needs}
◦ The $7 billion Nigeria-Algeria (NIGAL) project planned.
4,000 km pipeline from Nigeria to Algeria's export
terminals on the Mediterranean.
5
◦ Plans to double electricity access, additional
15,000 km transmission and 16 new power
plants.
◦ Running fast to equate gas revenue to oil revenue
◦ Aggressively moving to stop gas flaring
◦ Promote local content in gas to 100% in 2010
[70% onshore, 30% offshore]
◦ 13% of current gas is being produced and used
◦ 12% is re-injected for oil enhancement [total
utilization =25%]
◦ 75% flared
6
Upstream Crude Oil Fiscal Regime
The Nigerian Oil Extraction activities keep on moving
from one arrangement to the other while the existing
arrangement continues as parallel running since
1958 to date. The current Position is as below.
Nigeria Oil
Fiscal Regime
Concessionary /
Licensing
Arrangement
Joint Venture
Contractual
Arrangement
Service
Contract
Sole Risk Operation
Marginal fields
Hybrid
Production Sharing
Contract
Condensate
7

Oil Sector [ Upstream Regimes]
◦ Joint Venture
Cash-call challenges are moving the government
away from this arrangement
◦ Sole Risk Operations
Local content directives of 60%/40%
[funding, revenue & tax sharing issues]
◦ Risk Service Contract
No increase in the numbers of RSCs
◦ Production Sharing Contracts
The New order
◦ Marginal Field operations
◦ Hybrids
8
Presently, Nigeria operates the 3 PETROLEUM ARRANGEMENTS or
regimes that could be found anywhere in the world:

Concessions (Licenses & Lease : JVs , Sole Risks) :
(Countries practicing: Nigeria, USA, Canada, Norway, UK, Russia, Brazil,
Algeria, Saudi Arabia (for gas only), South Africa, Pakistan, Thailand and
Australia)

Production Sharing Contracts :
(Countries practicing: Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Egypt, Gabon, Ivory
Coast, Syria, Yemen and Trinidad and Tobago)

Risk Service Contracts
(Countries practicing: Nigeria, Mexico, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait). Iraq and Kuwait
practices Technical Services Agreement where IOCs only Consult for them
while the operate 100%.
-
All the regimes could result in the same Government Take(%) and Government
Revenue (Undiscounted) and Discounted Revenue
9
Fiscal means all government take in cash or kind including:








Bonuses (signature bonus, production bonus etc)
royalties,
corporate income taxes,
profit oil shares,
windfall profits taxes (Delayed+**loss**+loss**)
property taxes,
export duties,
carried interest provisions,
and Contractors take in




Performance Fees / Bonus to Contractors
RSC’s fees paid by government to the contractors
Profit oil share
Interest on intercompany/group funding
10
Factors driving government take:
High Government Take (Max…99%)

development of low cost LIGHT OIL in already discovered fields
Low Government Take (Min…25%)


high risk exploration projects for small target fields
Offshore investments
Target

To maximise Govt revenue, Govt to maximise level of production

To increase level of Reserves. Increase in reserves does not mean increase in
Production (Venezuela has 177 billion barrels of reserve but producing 2 billion
barrels per annum in 2009 from 72 billion barrels of reserve in 2004 with a
production level of 3 billion)
11
Target (contd)

Government to encourage investor to ensure maximum production at lowest cost

Higher Government Take during high oil & gas prices to avoid windfall profits

Increase in oil price from 2003 make governments to start adjusting their prices

In 2009 the prices started falling.
- Nigeria started reform in 2003 – National Study Group / Working Group to Oil & Gas
Implementation Reform Committee leading to PIB
12
The “government take” is the share that the government
receives of the divisible income as government revenues.
Government take could be the same in the three arrangements:

For instance, where Govt. take is 95% Government Revenue will be
US$B

Gross Revenue 1b X $100 =
100
Less: Capital Expenditure
3.5
Less: Operating Expenditure
4.5
Total Cost
Divisible Income
Government Take 95%
Contractor’s Take
5% discounted Vakue of Govt revenue
US$B
8
92
87.4
4.6
52.2
13

Under Concession
US$B

Gross Revenue 1b X $100 =
Less: 46% Royalty
46
Less: Costs
8
Total Cost
Taxable Income
46
Government Tax 90%
41.4
Government Take
Contractor’s Take
5% discounted Vakue of Govt revenue
US$B
100
87.4
4.6
52.2
14

Under PSC
US$B


Gross Revenue 1b X $100 =
Less: 46% Royalty oil
46
Less: Costs
8
Total Cost
Taxable Income
46
Government Tax 90%
41.4
Government Take
Contractor’s Take
5% discounted Vakue of Govt revenue
Under RSC
US$B

Gross Revenue 1b X $100 =
Less: Costs
Contractor’s further paid $4.6pb
Government Take
5% discounted Vakue of Govt revenue
US$B
100
87.4
4.6
52.2
US$B
100
8
4.6
87.4
52.2
15
Presently, the UPSTREAM CRUDE OIL TAXATION is being governed by:
1.
The Petroleum Profits Tax Act , Cap P13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,
2004
2.
Deep Offshore Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act Cap D3, LFN,
2004
3.
Memorandum of understanding & Agreements
4.
Decided Cases
5.
Side Letters
16
The UPSTREAM GAS TAXATION is being governed by a hybrid of:
1.
Petroleum Profits Tax Act
2.
Companies Income Tax Act, Cap C21, LFN 2004 - Gas
Utilization - Downstream Sector
3.

NLNG Act 1990 & 1993.
The proposed PIB attempts to consolidate the taxation of the
Upstream Crude Oil and upstream Gas into one Act.
17
The Nigerian Tax Reform exercise started as far back as 2003 with the
works of the Study Group led by Professor Dotun Phillips. There was
also the Working Group led by Mr Seyi Bickestet that was set up to
review the works of the Study Group with a view to fine-tuning the
recommendations of the Study Group for implementation purposes.
The two groups identified the fact that many of the tax laws needed to be
urgently reviewed of which Petroleum Profits Tax Act was one.
18
The 9 Tax Bills sent to National Assembly were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
A Bill for an Act to establish the FIRS as an autonomous Service
A Bill for an Act to amend the Companies Income Tax Act
A Bill for an Act to amend the Petroleum Profit Tax Act
A Bill for an Act to amend the Personal Income Tax Act.
A Bill for an Act to amend the Value Added Tax Act
A Bill for an Act to amend the Education Tax Act.
A Bill for an Act to amend the Customs, Excise tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act.
A Bill for an Act to amend the National Sugar Development Council Act.
A Bill for an Act to amend the National Automotive Council Act.
As far back as 2005, we had it that the House of Representatives at its sitting of
10th August 2005 has concluded deliberations on the general principle
underlying the nine tax reform bills and referred same to its joint committees
on Finance and Justice for further legislative action.
In April 2007, some of the Bills were passed into law which are 1, 2, 5, and 9.
No 6 has been dropped while all others including the PPTA are outstanding.
19
One would have thought that if a bill will be passed in order of importance,
next to the Federal Inland Revenue Services should be the PPTA.
In 2007, there were two versions of the PPTA proposed amendment. The
FIRS version and the NNPC version.
In 2008, the Oil & Gas Implementation Committee came up with the
recommendation of the PIB materially believed to be driven by the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and in December 2008,
there was the 1st reading of the PIB Bill.
In 2009, significant work was done by both the Senate and the House of
Representative including the 2nd reading that was done between March
and May 2009 and the Public Hearing in July 2009.
In 2010, there were committee reviews. It is believed that the currently as at
today September 28 2010, the Committees are finalising their reports in
preparation for the 3rd reading by both Houses.
20
Highlights of the Gas Policy include:
Intro. of the Natural Gas (Fiscal Reform) Act = Gas Tax Act
Introduction of the Downstream Gas Act
Unbundling of NGC into: GRC (regulatory), NGTC (transmission), NGMC
(marketing)
Encourage exports- WA Gas Pipeline project, NLNG
Future oil field approval only if specific plans for associated gas are included
Penalties for Gas flaring
Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA)
Tax Issues – next slide

Highlights of the Tax Issues include:
◦ Gas Profits Tax (GPT) replaces PPT and CIT i.e would apply to both
upstream and downstream sectors.
◦ Separate income & expenditure iro oil from gas and apply to tax
separately – level playing ground for non-oil players
◦ VAT, import duties and Niger Delta Devt levy would continue to apply to
Gas projects
◦ Dividend payable from gas projects would be exempt from WHT
◦ Royalty rate of 0%
Petroleum Industry Bill 2010 – 10 Parts , 495 Sections, 10 Schedules.
Part I:
Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII-
*PART VIII Part IX:
Part X-
Fundamental Objectives
Institutions
Upstream Petroleum Incorporated Joint Ventures
Downstream Licensing
Downstream Products
Indigenous Oil Companies and Nigerian Content
Health, Safety and Environmental Responsibilities
over the Environment
FISCAL PROVISIONS (Section 414 – 477)
Repeals, Transitional and Savings Provisions
Interpretation and Citation
*The bone of contention has been Part VIII. Meanwhile the problem of not agreeing and
passing the bill is a loss of Government Take and huge uncertainty on the side of the IOCs.
23
Also in 2010, the Inter Government Agency Team, IAT comprising of key
ministries have come up with a draft of how PIB should look like.
As it is now, it still has to pass through the concurrence of the Houses,
Presidential approval and Assent. In May 2010, the Honourable Minister
for Petroleum Resources was optimistic that that the Bill would be passed
very shortly.
There is a very huge uncertainty as to whether the bill will be passed before
the end of 2010 in view of the coming election in April 2011.
There is also a huge uncertainty as to what is going to be the content of the
Act when passed into law.
In summary, with respect to the timing of the passage of the PIB, just as it
has been from the inception to date, the UNCERTAINTY continues !!!
24
Between 2003 and 2009 there was increase in crude oil price
and Governments with crude oil resources all over the world
carried out reform to benefit from the windfall. It is by way of
adjustment to the Government Take in the form of “FISCAL
ADJUDSTMENT”.
Currently under the JV, Nigeria takes averagely 86 – 94%
which is estimated to be increasing to increasing to 96%
under the proposed PIB
Currently Nigeria takes averagely 61% moving to 82%.
Leaving IOCs with about 18% from 39%.
25
- Increased royalty with change in base from water depth to
production value. Rate up to 25%.
- Dual tax filing for Upstream Oil operations i.e. NHT and CIT
- Introduction of Dividend Withholding Tax (10%)
- Introduction of ‘minimum tax’ at a percentage of gross revenue;
capital allowance restriction eliminated
26
▪
Stricter rules governing tax deductibility of costs
▪
Basis for taxes and royalties on production instead of actual sales
▪
Separate tax regime for the midstream sector and introduction of the
‘measurement point’ to demarcate the upstream from the midstream
27
1.
Commencement date
 Setting the right commencement date
 Eliminating complications
 January 1 of any year as appropriate date
2.
Negotiated Terms (Section 4)
Opportunity to come to a common understanding and
agreement that whatever TERMS are agreed between
Applicants and the Minister of Petroleum Resources will be
binding on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
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3.
A Friendly Taxation policy ( Section 6)
The Federal Government shall, to the extent possible
…..promote ….a taxation policy that encourages fuel
efficiency by producers and consumers (Economically viable?
Certainty?)
4.
Minister of Petroleum Resources Overall Function (Section 9, 10
& 11)
“The Minister in charge of petroleum resources shall be
responsible for the co-ordination of the activities of the
petroleum industry and shall have overall supervisory functions
over petroleum operations and all the Institution of the
Industry”.
29
“The Minister shall represent the Federal Government in all
transactions between Government and any other persons in
respect of any matter contemplated by this Act”
“The Minister may by regulations prescribe all matters which
under this Act are required and necessary to give effect to
this Act”
Is the FIRS having the same understanding?
5.
≤ 2 % Earmarked Levy (Section 28)
….Shall be paid by every company engaged in petroleum
operations…….
30
“The exact percentage of fiscalised crude or fiscalised natural gas, as
the case may be, shall be as contained in the guideline that shall
be issued by the Minister on the advise by the Directorate, three
months before the end of the financial year preceding the year in
which the guideline will be applicable and shall be an amount not
greater than 2%...”.
What happens if no guideline is issued at the end of the year that
the guideline relates?
Can Uncertain Tax Provision be (UTP) reduced?
31
6.
Tax Deductibility of the ≤ 2 % Earmarked Levy (Section 34)
“ Where contribution to the fund of the Directorate are
made by a person subject to tax under the provision of any
law in force in Nigeria, all such contribution shall be tax
deductible”
Where provisions are made and guideline was not issued,
are such provisions tax deductible?
32
6.
Tax Audit / Revenue Assurance (Section 59)
Office of Auditor General of the Federation was to audit the
Inspectorate. Should the Office of Auditor General of the
Federation audit the books of private companies for
compliance ?
7.
Costs Approval (Section 114)
The National Petroleum Assets Management Agency (NPAMA)
shall be in charge of monitoring and approving costs in the
upstream petroleum industry of Nigeria with the objective of
maximizing the total revenue accruing to the government…”
33
Costs Approval (Section 114) (Contd.)
If a cost is not cost recoverable, does it have any bearing
with tax deductibility? (section 115 (g) requires the agency to
liaise with the FIRS for cost deductibility)
If a cost is recovered, will charging the amount as tax
deductible amount to a double claim?
34
8.
Evidencing Tax Payment (Tax Receipt) (Section 115)
“ The function of the agency shall be…
(f) to receive and dispose of petroleum accruing to the Federal
Government which is produced under production sharing
contract, consisting of TAX and Royalty OIL but not profit oil”.
Will the FIRS issue Official Receipt for uncollected taxes?
35
9.
Transfer of Assets from NOC/IOCs to IJVC / incorporated PSC
Company (Section 137/ 246 / 256)
Can the transfer be deemed to be a statutory or compulsory
transfer with no transaction taxes –
◦
◦
◦
◦
CGT,
VAT,
Stamp duties
WHT ?
Is there a need for a special application?
36
10.
Definition Issues (Section 414)
“Contract Area means the contract area as defined in the PSC”
Can two or more blocks be a contract area for tax deductibility
purposes ?
11.
Can the Tax Treatment of condensate not Spiked? (if any) (Section
419 (1a) be agreed) ?
37
12.
Application of Accounting Period (Section
420)
With respect to the definition of an
accounting period, what would be tax
treatment of pre-production operating
expenses?
13.
Allowable Deductions (Section 420)
To be:
◦
Benchmarked (price set by the
authority – S494)
◦ Verified
◦ Approved
◦ 100% Cost incurred in Nigeria
allowable / 80% of costs incurred
outside Nigeria
38
14.
Allowable Deductions (Section 420)
No mention was made of Interest
allowable (Section 421 (2) disallows
intercompany interest chargeable).
15.
Pension - Allowable Deductions (Section
420 j )
Any contribution to a pension, provident or
other society, scheme or fund which may
…….be approved by the Board.
What makes of Pencom Approval?
39
16.
Regime Clarification and Applicable Tax Rates (Section 429 / 430)
50% 30% 30%
NHT (Onshore shallow water)
Offshore Plus
CIT
Earlier proposal:
50% PSC Upstream Crude Oil
60% Indigenous company (<50k b)
45% JV Upstream Gas
35% PSC Upstream Gas
- If an indigenous co crosses to over 50,000 barrels per day, what
rate is applicable?
40
- If a new co farm in into assets existing
from more that 5 years, what rate is
applicable?
17.
Investment Tax Credit or Petroleum
Investment Allowance (Section 431)
The title and the body should align to
eliminate ambiguities.
41

Case study 1 (Thisday News 21 May 2008)
◦ Yar’Adua Orders Shell, ExxonMobil to Refund N236bn –
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has ordered the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to immediately
recover outstanding payments of $1.91 billion (N236 billion)
due to the Federal Government from Shell and ExxonMobil on
the Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for the Bonga and
Erha oil fields.
“President Yar’Adua directed as follows: That the total sum of
$1.496 billion accruable to NNPC based on the proper
application of the PSC’s capital allowance should be
recovered. This sum is made up of $850 million from Bonga
and $646.3 million from Erha;
“That the sum of $414.6 million accruable to NNPC and to
government from Bonga gas sales and as tax revenue from
the gas sales should be recovered; and
“That all future government gas sales agreements should
account for Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) to ensure that
government derives maximum economic benefits from them
and that this position be adopted in the renegotiation of all
existing PSC agreements which are due for renegotiation,” he
said.
Question: Ambiguity leading to Tax Disagreement or outright
case of Tax Evasion?
42

Case study 2 (Thisday News 15 November 2006)
◦ The $500 Billion Question:
Using the final tax returns submitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) by Shell,
Mobil, Chevron Nigeria, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Texaco and Elf, the Okoguled unit started by conducting a study on the margin of profit allowed to oil companies
under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) based on the existing fiscal regime, a
study which revealed very clearly that Nigeria was being shortchanged by the oil majors.
With the report, Okonjo-Iweala thought that on her own, working with FIRS, she could
arm-twist the oil companies to pay back the $340 million shortfall by the calculations
done. ……………..
"Part of the incentive package granted to oil companies under the Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) in the Joint Venture agreements was a guaranteed margin of at
least $2.50 per barrel irrespective of the oil price. In addition, the companies are allowed
an extra margin based on a formula that escalates the base margin when the price lies
between $19 and $30 per barrel, which works out at $4.147 when the oil price reaches
$30. If the price stays above this level for 45 consecutive days, the MOU states that the
Oil Minister would advise the oil companies on any change in applicable margin.
…………………………
After reading this memo, the president was said to have exclaimed: "Are you sure of your
facts?"
Okonjo-Iweala answered in the affirmative. There and then, Obasanjo requested that a
letter be drafted for him to the oil majors. The next day, he signed the letter as the de
facto oil minister and within weeks, $340 million was returned to the Nigerian treasury by
the oil companies. Just like that!
43
Case study 1 - Yar’Adua Orders Shell, ExxonMobil to Refund N236bn –
based on the proper application of the PSC’s capital allowance and the
gas sales “That all future government gas sales agreements should
account for Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs)..”.
Questions –
1) Was it a tax evasion? Tax avoidance? Or Tax
Uncertainty and Controversy?
2) Was there a clear understanding?
3) Was there a genuine efforts to seek clarifications by the
NNPC & the
contractors
4) Who should be blamed for the gaps in the laws and its poor
admin? Govt or Operators?
5) Should the only one issue identified be the one to address?
44

Case study 2 –

The $500 Billion Question - a study on the margin of profit under the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) based on the existing fiscal
regime, a study which revealed very clearly that Nigeria was being
shortchanged by the oil majors. $340 million was returned to the
Nigerian treasury by the oil companies. Just like that!
Questions – 1) Was it a tax evasion? Tax avoidance? Or Tax Uncertainty
and Controversy?
2) Was there a clear understanding?
3) Was there a genuine efforts to seek clarifications by the
NNPC & the
contractors
4) Who should be blamed for the gaps in the laws and its poor
admin? Govt or Operators?
5) Should the only one issue identified be the one to address?
45
It will be a great opportunity to use the Petroleum
Industry Bill, 2010 to address all the issues
identified.
If not addressed, those issues would obviously from
part of the future challenges of implementing the
Bill when passed into law.
Thank you.
46
It Can only be better !
Thank you.
47










Petroleum Profits Tax Act , Cap 13 LFN 2004
Deep Offshore Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract
Act Cap D3, LFN, 2004
Companies Income Tax Act, Cap C21 LFN 2004
The Petroleum Industry Bill 2010
Petroleum Accounting & Taxation in Nigeria, R U Uche,
PhD, FCA in collaboration with K A Adebiyi, FCA (2002)
Overview of Country Oil & Gas Tax Practices – Ernst &
Young (2008)
Thisday News 21 May 2008)
Thisday News 15 November 2006)
Nigerian Tax Reform Manual, 2003
Nigeria Oil & Gas Monthly Magazine .
48