We are proud to share that Axiomatic Consultants has officially been crowned Regional Payroll Supplier of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Global Payroll Awards held in Warsaw, Poland
This international recognition highlights Axiomatics' excellence in managing payrolls across 44 African countries and reflects our strong commitment to service innovation, integration capabilities, and unwavering focus on compliance and client satisfaction.
The Global Payroll Awards are hosted annually by the Global Payroll Association and are considered one of the highest honours in the industry, with nominees including some of the most respected payroll providers in the world. Being shortlisted was an achievement winning was a moment of pride we share with every member of our team and with you, our valued clients
We extend our sincere thanks to our clients and partners. Your ongoing trust, high expectations, and partnership continually push us to deliver a world-class, future-ready payroll solution. This award is as much yours as it is ours.
We look forward to continuing our journey together and building on this success with even more innovation, efficiency, and dedication.
Thank you for being part of Team Axiomatic.
System Updates
Product Podcast – July
Remember to check out the AI generated podcast version of our monthly Product Update. Just another way to stay updated on all the latest features, enhancements and need-to-knows while on the go.
The employee Performance Journal screen serves as a centralised space where both ESS users and administrators can view historical records of performance-related entries enabling ongoing performance monitoring. We’ve introduced the following two new Performance Journal reports to provide a consolidated view of employees’ performance journal details:
Employee Performance Journal Report
The employee Performance Journal Report is now available on the Employee > Performance Journal screen providing a summary of all documented performance journal entries associated with an individual employee.
Company Performance Journal Report
The company Performance Journal has been added to the list of NextGen > Performance Management reports allowing you to generate a consolidated view of records captured on employees’ Performance Journal screen across the company.
Rosters – New Roster Type Dropdown
As part of a holistic transformation of company Rosters, we’re rolling out a series of updates designed to offer greater flexibility over how you manage your workforce schedule. These updates focus on three key screens – Rosters, Shift Types and Company Roster Schedules.
As a starting point, we’ve added a new Roster Type dropdown menu granting users the ability to define rosters linked to roster shift types.
The dropdown offers the following two options:
Shift Date – The existing method where users manually enter working hours for each date
Shift Pattern – You can now define the recurring shift over a week or multiple weeks and let the system automatically generate the work schedule for the Tax Year based on the pattern – this will create what will be known as the Work Week Pattern.
Please take note: All existing rosters have been defaulted to the Roster Type –Shift Date.
New Shift Type Screen
Shift Types used to create shifts per roster have been relocated to a dedicated screen under the Dropdown Management config menu.
We’ve introduced the following enhancements as part of this update:
• Modern design – The Shift Types screen is split into two intuitive tabs: Details and Shift Patterns.
Define roster hours per week – On the Details tab, you can now assign working hours per day of the week for each shift within a pattern roster eliminating the need to manually input hours by individual dates across the year Non-weekly pattern rosters can still be set using the Shift Date roster option
• Generate work patterns – Once one or more Shift Types associated with a “Shift Pattern” Roster have been created, you can create and allocate repeating shift patterns for your pattern-based roster. These shift patterns will then be automatically populated on the Company Roster Schedule for the Tax Year.
• Grouping by Pattern Roster – Shift Patterns grid is grouped and organised based on the selected Shift Pattern Roster. We’ve also added drag and drop motion allowing you to reorder your shift patterns.
Screen Conversion – Company Roster Schedules
As a final step in the company Rosters transformation project, we’ve converted the Company Roster Schedules screen to NextGen.
We’ve introduced the following enhancements as part of this conversion:
• Company Roster Schedule API – Customers using Shift Date rosters can now integrate their Time & Attendance systems to automatically update Company Roster schedules.
• Grid Display with Inline Row Editing – View and edit shift entries directly within the grid. We’ve also sorted the grid by scheduled date ensuring the most recent dates are shown first within the current Tax Year for easier tracking.
• Enhanced Search & Filter Capabilities – Quickly find shift details for any selected roster using enhanced search and filtering options.
• Flexible Roster Summary View – Choose how you want to view your Roster summary view either by Tax Year or roster details.
• New Calendar View – Gain a clear, consolidated snapshot of rostered hours across the Tax Year with a convenient month-by-month calendar layout making it easier to plan, review and manage workforce schedules at a glance
• Bulk Action for Rosters – The Classic bulk upload has been removed from the Company Roster Schedules screen. A new bulk action for Company Roster Schedules is now available under the company “Payroll Config” section.
• Rosters included in Leave and Basic Pay Calculations – We’d like to remind you that Company Roster Schedules will be factored into your Basic Pay proration and leave calculations offering flexible processing based on employees’ unique schedules
Compliance Updates
Legislation updates for July 2025
Ethiopia:
• Income Tax Amendments - The tax table was updated
Mauritius:
• NSF Ceiling increased
• Income Tax Act changes effective 1 July 2025 - awaiting the promulgations. It is in bill stage
Nigeria:
• Income Tax Act change Effective 1 January 2026
NIGERIA TAX CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY
2026
On June 26, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law four major tax reform bills aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s tax system. These are:
Nigeria Tax Act
Nigeria Tax Administration Act
Nigeria Revenue Service Act
Joint Revenue Board Act
As of the time of this publication, the effective date of the Acts has not yet been publicised. However, there are indications that this date will not be earlier than 1 January 2026. Employers do therefore have some time to institute change management to inform and educate employees.
The wide sweeping reforms aim to simplify tax administration, improve compliance, and enhance revenue generation. To keep our Clients informed and aware of the proposed changes, we have analysed the Acts and extracted what we consider to be pertinent changes from a payroll perspective.
Key Changes to Personal Income Tax (PIT)
A. Nigeria Tax Act (NTA)
• Progressive Tax Bands Adjusted: The NTA revises the personal income tax bands to reflect inflation and cost of living. The new bands increase the taxfree threshold and adjust the marginal tax rates for middle- and high-income earners.
• Tax-Free Allowances Expanded: The Act increases allowable deductions for pension contributions, health insurance, and dependents, effectively reducing taxable income for many PAYE earners.
• Capital Gains for Individuals: Capital gains for individuals are now taxed at the same progressive rate as income tax, rather than a flat rate.
• Consolidated Relief Allowance (CRA) repealed. The NTA has repealed the CRA and introduced a Rent Relief in Section 30 (vi). This relief is 20% of the annual rent paid, subject to a maximum of N500,000 whichever is lower. A word of caution- to claim this relief declarations must be lodged regarding the actual rent paid and the tax authority has the right to demand additional information and/or documentation. The implication is that an individual who lives in their own home cannot claim relief.
B. Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA)
• Unified Taxpayer Identification: All individuals will now be issued a National Taxpayer Number (NTN), streamlining PAYE tracking and reducing tax evasion.
• Real-Time PAYE Reporting: Employers are now required to submit PAYE deductions in real-time via a centralized digital platform, improving transparency and reducing delays in remittance.
C. Nigeria Revenue Service Act (NRSA)
• Centralized Collection: The NRSA establishes the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) as the sole agency for collecting personal income taxes across federal, state, and local levels. This eliminates duplication and reduces administrative costs.
• Advance Rulings for Individuals: High-net-worth individuals can now request advance tax rulings to clarify their tax obligations, especially for complex income sources.
D. Joint Revenue Board Act (JRBA)
• Dispute Resolution Mechanism: The JRBA introduces a Tax Ombud and a Joint Revenue Board Tribunal to handle disputes between taxpayers and tax authorities, offering individuals a faster and more transparent resolution process.
E. Resident and Non-Resident Individuals defined - PIT will apply to the worldwide income of a resident individual which is now clearly defined in the new Act. Prior to this clarification there had been varied interpretations due to a lack of proper definition of “residence”. With the definition extending to individuals with substantial economic and immediate family ties in a year of assessment, the law widens the tax net. Employment income will now be taxed in Nigeria only if the individual is resident in Nigeria or performs duties in Nigeria without paying tax in their country of residence
Broad Implications for PAYE and Net Pay
New PAYE Tables
Insights into new PAYE Tables
A. Nigeria Tax Act (NTA)
Higher Tax-Free Threshold: The first ₦800,000 of income is now completely exempt from tax, up from ₦300,000 previously. This benefits low-income earners and increases their net pay.
More Progressive Structure: The new bands introduce more granular brackets, ensuring that tax increases are more gradual and equitable.
Top Rate Increased: The highest marginal rate is now 25%, up from 24% previously, but it now applies only to income above ₦50 million, offering relief to upper-middle earners.
Low-Income Earners: Will see higher take-home pay due to the expanded tax-free threshold and lower effective tax rates.
Middle-Income Earners: Will benefit from more favourable marginal rates and expanded deductions (e.g., pensions, health insurance).
High-Income Earners: May experience a slight increase in PAYE due to the broader application of the 23% and 25% rates, especially if they earn above ₦50 million annually.
Scenarios
To assist clients, we have calculated the old and new PAYE liability and the estimated Net Pay for the old and new tax tables.
Assumptions:
We did not include any rent relief in the calculations. If however, an employee does follow the correct procedure to apply for, and gets granted the deduction, this will lower their PAYE.
The only deductions from net pay are the mandatory deductions for PAYE and the National Pension Scheme (8% of Basic salary)
Conclusion and implications for Clients
The 2025 Tax Reform Acts represent a significant shift in Nigeria’s personal income tax landscape. While low- and middle-income earners are likely to benefit from higher thresholds and deductions, high-income earners may face increased tax liabilities due to the alignment of capital gains and income tax rates. The reforms also promise a more efficient and transparent PAYE system, ultimately aiming to improve taxpayer experience and compliance.
All employees will experience a change in net pay in 2026. Given the sensitivity regarding net pay, we strongly suggest that employers embark on a change management process to inform employees of the impending legislative changes.
FSCA JOINT STANDARD 2 OF 2024: CYBERSECURITY AND RESILIENCE
Ongoing Requirements From Retirement Funds and Trustees
Although Joint Standard (JS) 2 of 2024 took effect on 1 June 2025, ongoing compliance requires continued efforts beyond the implementation date. JS 2 of 2024 outlines specific obligations for financial institutions, like retirement funds, to make sure they stay compliant with cybersecurity and cyber resilience standards. It goes to great lengths to set out detailed roles and responsibilities to safeguard members from potential cyber threats, attacks and/or breaches.
Labour Law Insider 2025 Q3 Now Available
Our partner, Links, who manages payrolls across APAC countries as part of the Emerging Market Partnership, has released their latest Labour Law Insider 2025 Q3
You can access it [here]. This edition covers the following topics:
Australia
• Australia to Increase Minimum Wage by 3.5%
• Increase in Super Guarantee to 12% from 1 July 2025
Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Issues 2025 Reminder on Tax Reporting Obligations for Taxpayers and Employers
• Hong Kong Approved Stamp Duty Amendment to Support 2025-26 Budget
• Hong Kong Abolished MPF Offsetting Arrangement
• Hong Kong Launched Business and Tax Representative Portals
• Hong Kong Passes Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025
India
• India Confirms 8.25% Interest Rate on EPF for FY 2024-25
• Delhi Government Raised Minimum Wages Across All Worker Categories
Indonesia
• Indonesia Issues Directive Against Discriminatory Hiring Criteria
• Indonesia Bans Employers from Retaining Employees’ Personal Documents
Mainland China
• Announcement on Extended Unemployment Insurance Benefits Policy
United Arab Emirates
• Dubai Implements
Malaysia
• Malaysia to Enforce Mandatory Stamping of Employment Contracts
• EPF to Enforce Mandatory Contributions for Non-Malaysian Employees
• Malaysia Revises E-Invoicing Rollout Schedule
• Malaysia Launched MADANI Workers’ Card and Announced Gig Worker Protections
New Zealand
• New Zealand to Increase Paid Parental Leave Rates
• New Zealand Announces Budget 2025 with Changes to Working for Families and KiwiSaver
• New Zealand Amended Law on Retention of Employment Agreements
Philippines
• Philippines Implements Minimum Wage Increase in Eastern Visayas and Soccsksargen
Singapore
• Singapore Releases 2026 Public Holiday Dates
• Singapore Maintains CPF SMRA Interest Rate at 4% for Q3 2025
• Singapore Launched Temporary Financial Support for Unemployed Citizens
South Korea
• South Korea Updates Employer Subsidy Rules for Childcare Leave
• South Korea Boosts Budget for Employment Maintenance Support
• South Korea to Raise Pay for “Daddy Bonus” Parental Leave Recipients
• Introduction of New Top Talent Visa
• National Pension Upper Limit to Increase from July 2025
Taiwan
• Taiwan Announces New National Holidays for 2025
• Taiwan Extended Corporate Income Tax Filing Deadline
• Tax Incentives for SMEs Raising Salaries Extended
