MTN Nigeria Communications Plc paid N295.4 billion in income tax throughout the 9 months ended September 30, 2026, representing a rise of roughly 1,271% from N21.5 billion within the corresponding interval of 2025.
According to the corporate’s unaudited consolidated assertion of cash flows, the quantity paid was practically 14 instances the earlier yr’s determine, reflecting a considerable improve in cash income tax payments.
The improve got here as MTN Nigeria’s pre-tax revenue rose by 59.4% to N1.80 trillion from N1.13 trillion, whereas the income tax expense recognised in its income assertion elevated by 67.6% to N630.5 billion from N376.3 billion.
The distinction between cash income tax paid and income tax expense displays the excellence between precise payments made throughout the reporting interval and the tax cost recognised towards earnings.
Key Highlights
- Tax paid: N295.4 billion, up roughly 1,271% from N21.5 billion within the corresponding interval of 2025.
- Tax expense: N630.5 billion, up 67.6% from N376.3 billion.
- Revenue: N4.61 trillion, up 23.6% from N3.73 trillion.
- Operating revenue: N1.99 trillion, up 38.2% from N1.44 trillion.
- Profit earlier than tax: N1.80 trillion, up 59.4% from N1.13 trillion.
- Profit after tax: N1.17 trillion, up 55.3% from N750.2 billion.
- EBITDA: N2.62 trillion, up 36.8% from N1.92 trillion.
- Net cash generated from working actions: N2.31 trillion, up from N1.56 trillion.
Tax expense rises to N630.5 billion
MTN Nigeria’s income assertion exhibits that its tax expense elevated to N630.5 billion within the 9 months to September 2026, in contrast with N376.3 billion in the identical interval of 2025.
- This represents a 67.6% improve within the tax cost recognised towards its earnings, taking the efficient tax fee to roughly 35.1% of revenue earlier than tax, in contrast with 33.4% a yr earlier.
- The tax expense recorded within the income assertion differs from the quantity paid in cash throughout the interval.
- Tax expense displays the cost recognised towards earnings, whereas cash tax payments characterize the quantity really paid to tax authorities throughout the reporting interval.
The distinction is necessary in assessing MTN Nigeria’s tax place, because the N295.4 billion paid throughout the nine-month interval was decrease than the N630.5 billion tax expense recognised in its income assertion.
Profit earlier than tax rises 59.4% to N1.80 trillion
Nairametrics had earlier reported that MTN Nigeria generated N4.61 trillion in revenue in the nine months ended September 2026, representing a 23.6% improve from N3.73 trillion within the corresponding interval of 2025.
- Its working revenue rose by 38.2% to N1.99 trillion from N1.44 trillion, whereas earnings earlier than curiosity, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) elevated by 36.8% to N2.62 trillion.
- Profit after tax climbed by 55.3% to N1.17 trillion from N750.2 billion a yr earlier, supported by stronger income development and decrease web finance prices. Net finance prices declined by 25.3% to N277.0 billion from N370.9 billion.
- Cash generated from operations rose to N2.87 trillion from N1.97 trillion, whereas web cash generated from working actions elevated to N2.31 trillion from N1.56 trillion, after accounting for curiosity obtained, finance prices paid and tax payments.
Market response
Shares of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc rose by 3.03% to shut at N850 on the Nigerian Exchange on Friday, October 30, 2026, gaining N25 from the earlier closing value of N825.
The inventory opened at N825 and traded between a low of N844 and a excessive of N850 throughout the session. A complete of 1.22 million shares exchanged arms, with a mixed worth of roughly N1.01 billion.
Despite the achieve, MTN Nigeria remained under its 52-week excessive of N915, whereas its 52-week low stood at N429.30.
