First, find out how you’re hired
Your contract decides almost everything else: the currency, who handles tax and whether you send invoices. If the offer doesn’t say, ask the recruiter: “Will I be an employee through an employer of record, or a contractor?”
Employee
Through an employer of record
A company like Deel, Remote or Oyster employs you in Nigeria for the employer. You’re on Nigerian payroll, paid monthly in naira into your bank account, usually by the last working day of the month.
- Tax (PAYE) and pension are deducted for you
- Leave, notice periods and other protections under Nigerian law
- No invoices to send
Contractor
Paid as a business
You invoice the company, or log hours on a platform like Deel, and get the full amount, usually in dollars. Most jobs on RemoteWork open to Nigeria work this way.
- You choose how to receive the money
- You file and pay your own tax
- No pension or paid leave unless your contract adds them
Ways to receive the money
If you’re paid through a platform like Deel, open its withdrawal screen to see which options it offers in Nigeria. Pick one before your first pay day.
Fees we found
From each provider’s own pages in October 2026. Fees change often, and some providers publish different numbers in different places, so check the app before you rely on them.
- Cleva
- ACH 0.8% (min $2, max $5); wires $10; Upwork deposits free
- Raenest
- ACH $2 under $500, $4 from $500; wires $10; naira withdrawal free
- Grey
- Currency conversion 1%, capped at $6; naira payout ₦35
- Payoneer
- 1% to receive into a USD account; 1.2% to 4% to withdraw in another currency
- Deel payouts
- Local bank transfer free; Payoneer 1%; PayPal 2.5%; Coinbase 1.5%
Tax under the 2026 rules
Nigeria’s new tax laws took effect on 1 January 2026. If you live here, your income is taxed in Nigeria wherever it comes from, including pay from a company abroad.
| Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| First ₦800,000 | 0% |
| Next ₦2.2 million (up to ₦3m) | 15% |
| Next ₦9 million (up to ₦12m) | 18% |
| Next ₦13 million (up to ₦25m) | 21% |
| Next ₦25 million (up to ₦50m) | 23% |
| Above ₦50 million | 25% |
- Employees have tax taken off each payslip by the employer of record.
- Contractors file a return with the revenue service of the state they live in (in Lagos, on LIRS eTax) within 90 days of the year end, so around 31 March. The first return under the new law covers 2026 income.
- Your NIN now serves as your tax ID. Rent relief lets you deduct 20% of your yearly rent, up to ₦500,000.
- If tax was already taken abroad on the same income, you can usually claim it against your Nigerian tax.
- Keep invoices, payment records and receipts for work expenses. You’ll need them to file.
This is general information, not tax advice. For your own situation, speak to a tax adviser or your state revenue service.
Invoices, if you’re a contractor
On Deel, Remote, Oyster and similar platforms the invoice is made for you each period, or when your hours are approved. If you bill the company directly, include:
- Your name, address and email, and the client’s
- An invoice number and the date
- What you did and the period it covers
- Your rate and hours, or the fixed fee
- The total, in the currency you agreed
- A due date, not just “Net 30”
- How to pay you: the account details from your app, or your bank’s SWIFT details
Before you start, agree the currency, the payment method and the pay date in writing. Most US companies run payroll every two weeks; contracts often pay monthly or when a piece of work is approved.
Your working hours in Lagos time
Customer support and assistant roles for US companies usually mean afternoons and late evenings in Lagos. UK and European roles fit a normal Lagos working day.
- US EastNew York, Miami, Toronto14:00 to 22:00
- US WestSan Francisco, Seattle17:00 to 01:00ends the next day
- UKLondon09:00 to 17:00
- Central EuropeBerlin, Amsterdam, Paris08:00 to 16:00
US clocks go back on 1 November 2026 and forward on 14 March 2027. The UK and Europe change on 25 October 2026 and 28 March 2027. For a week or two around each change, the gaps move at different times.
Payment scams to avoid
New remote workers are a favourite target. These are the patterns to walk away from.
A cheque, then a request to send some back
A “new employer” sends a cheque and asks you to return part of it, buy equipment or pay a “vendor”. The cheque bounces weeks later and you owe the money.
Buy your equipment and we’ll pay you back
Starter kits, paid training, “certification” or an equipment invoice to pay. Real employers don’t charge you to start, and real reimbursement only happens after you start, with receipts, as written in your offer.
Pay to unlock your earnings
Task apps show a balance that grows as you work, then ask you to pay, often in crypto, before you can withdraw. You never get it.
We need your bank login, OTP or BVN to set up pay
No employer needs these. To pay you, they need your account name and number, or your dollar account details. Nothing else.
Receive money for us and pass it on
Using your account to move someone else’s money can get your account frozen and you in legal trouble, even if you keep nothing.
Not sure about a job? Paste the link into Check a job to see whether it’s really open to people in Nigeria before you share anything.
Internet and power
- Two connections from different providers. A fibre or main line plus a MiFi or phone on another network. Many call-centre employers ask for a wired connection and won’t accept a hotspot or satellite, so read the requirements.
- Proof of speed. Employers often ask for at least 10 to 12 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. Run a test on speedtest.net or fast.com and keep a screenshot.
- Power for your laptop and router. A small inverter or power station is enough to cover an outage during a shift. Whole-home solar costs far more.
- A headset with a noise-cancelling microphone and a quiet room for calls.
Prices we found: Starlink home internet is ₦57,000 a month with a ₦590,000 kit (from May 2025), and it was sold out in parts of Lagos in February 2026. A month of 20 to 25GB mobile data cost ₦7,500 to ₦8,000 in February 2026.
Questions, answered.
Will a foreign company pay me in dollars or naira?
It depends on how you’re hired. Employees hired through an employer of record such as Deel or Remote are usually paid monthly in naira, with tax and pension deducted. Contractors are usually paid the full amount in dollars and handle their own tax.
What’s the best way to receive dollars in Nigeria?
For contractors, a dollar account app (Grey, Raenest, Cleva, LemFi or Afriex) or Payoneer is usually cheapest and quickest for US payments. For international wires, a domiciliary account at a Nigerian bank works, but intermediary banks take fees along the way. Compare the fees in each app before you choose, because they change often.
Can I use Wise or PayPal in Nigeria?
Wise doesn’t give USD account details to people with a Nigerian address, so it isn’t a way to get paid. PayPal has worked with Paga since January 2026: you link PayPal to a Paga wallet and withdraw in naira.
Do I pay Nigerian tax on money from a foreign company?
If you live in Nigeria, yes. Under the 2026 tax law, residents are taxed on their income wherever it comes from. The first ₦800,000 a year is tax free. Employees have tax deducted for them. Contractors file a return with their state’s revenue service, such as LIRS in Lagos, by about 31 March each year. This is general information, not tax advice.
What hours will I work for a US company?
A 9am to 5pm day in New York is 3pm to 11pm in Lagos from November to March, and 2pm to 10pm the rest of the year. On US West Coast time it runs past midnight. UK and European jobs fall within normal Lagos office hours.
Is it normal to pay for equipment or training before starting?
No. It’s one of the most common job scams. A real employer either sends the equipment or pays you back after you start, with receipts, as set out in your offer letter.
Sources
- Deel: Employer of record in Nigeria
- Remote: Nigeria employer of record guide
- Deel: Contractor withdrawal options (July 2026)
- Wise: Can I get USD account details?
- Payoneer pricing
- Cleva pricing
- Raenest: Pricing update for Nigeria
- Grey: Send money to Nigeria
- PayPal goes live in Nigeria through Paga (Condia, January 2026)
- PwC: Nigeria personal income tax
- PwC: Nigeria tax residence
- FTC: Fake check scams
- FBI IC3: Work-from-home task scams
- NIST: Daylight saving time