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The short answer
Since 1 January 2026, a ₦50 stamp duty under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 is charged to the sender of electronic transfers of ₦10,000 or more, so you should expect it on qualifying OPay transfers. It replaced the old ₦50 EMTL, which was usually taken from the receiver. Transfers below ₦10,000 and transfers between your own accounts are reported as exempt.
Yes, a ₦50 charge can appear when you send money from OPay, but it is not an OPay fee and it is no longer the old levy most people remember. Since 1 January 2026, under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, a flat ₦50 stamp duty is taken from the sender of an electronic transfer of ₦10,000 or more. Before that, a ₦50 Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was typically taken from the person receiving the money. This guide explains the rule, the exemptions reported so far, and how to check a particular deduction on OPay.
What changed on 1 January 2026
Reports and bank notices from the turn of the year describe the same switch. Techeconomy (1 January 2026) reported that a flat ₦50 stamp duty replaced EMTL, that it is deducted from the sender rather than the beneficiary, and that it applies to electronic transfers of ₦10,000 and above or the foreign-currency equivalent. Kuda's help centre (31 December 2025) told its business customers the same: ₦50 per qualifying transfer of ₦10,000 or more, charged to the sender, as a Federal Government levy that the provider collects and remits in full.
| Before 2026 (EMTL) | From 1 Jan 2026 (stamp duty) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who bears it | Typically the receiver | The sender |
| Amount | ₦50 | ₦50 flat, once per qualifying transfer |
| Threshold | ₦10,000 and above | ₦10,000 and above |
| Legal basis cited | Earlier tax law (not covered here) | Nigeria Tax Act 2025 |
Transfers reported as exempt
The published notices list these exemptions. Not every provider lists all of them, so treat this as a guide and confirm with your provider:
- Transfers below ₦10,000.
- Salary payments (Kuda describes salary paid through its own payroll tool; Techeconomy refers to salary payments generally).
- Transfers between your own accounts at the same provider.
How this applies on OPay
OPay's own website does not set out its stamp duty handling on any page we could read in October 2026; it says only that free transfer limits and other restrictions may apply and refers customers to the app for current terms. Because the duty is a legal requirement for providers, you should expect OPay to deduct ₦50 when you send ₦10,000 or more to another account. What we could not confirm from OPay is how it treats transfers between your own OPay wallet and OWealth or other savings, or between two OPay accounts you own. Check the transaction detail screen, which should show the charge on its own line.
Example: what the sender pays
Example only. You send ₦25,000 from OPay to a friend's bank account. Your account is debited ₦25,000 plus ₦50 stamp duty, so ₦25,050 leaves your balance, plus any transfer fee OPay applies (OPay advertises free transfers to other banks within limits, so this may be nil). Your friend receives the full ₦25,000. If you split the payment into two transfers of ₦12,500, both are above ₦10,000, so you would pay ₦50 twice: ₦100 instead of ₦50.
Example only. You send ₦9,500. It is below the threshold, so no stamp duty applies.
Why you might still see ₦50 when receiving
If you were charged ₦50 on money coming in after 1 January 2026, look closely at the date and description. Possible reasons include a transfer initiated before the switch and settled later, a fee for a specific service, or an error. The rules as reported put the duty on the sender only. If the description does not make sense, raise it with OPay support and keep the transaction reference; see how to escalate an OPay complaint if it is not resolved.
If you run a business on OPay
Traders who receive many small payments were the people most affected by the old receiver-side levy. Under the 2026 rule, a customer who pays you ₦15,000 by transfer bears the ₦50 on their side, and you receive the full ₦15,000. The cost moves to you when you pay out: suppliers, staff or refunds of ₦10,000 or more each carry ₦50. Example only: a shop that makes 40 supplier payments of ₦10,000 or more in a month pays 40 × ₦50 = ₦2,000 in stamp duty that month. Batching several small invoices to the same supplier into one payment reduces the count; splitting one large payment into several increases it.
What to check first
- Open the transaction in your history and read the fee lines.
- Confirm the amount sent was ₦10,000 or more.
- Check whether it went to your own account (possibly exempt) or someone else's.
- If the charge looks wrong, contact support through the in-app channel and note the reference; OPay's published numbers are in our OPay contacts guide.
For how transfer limits and charges interact more broadly, see bank transfer limits in Nigeria and OPay transfer charges to other banks. This article is general information on a tax rule, not tax advice.
Where Pryme fits
On a Pryme account, the statutory duty applies in the same way as anywhere else, and the app shows each charge on its own line before you approve a transfer (send money). Business customers who pay salaries can read about payroll.
Questions people ask
Why did OPay deduct ₦50 from my transfer?
Since 1 January 2026, a ₦50 stamp duty under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 is charged to the sender of electronic transfers of ₦10,000 or more. It is a government levy, not an OPay fee.
Is stamp duty charged on transfers below ₦10,000?
No. Published notices say transfers below ₦10,000 are exempt.
Do I still pay ₦50 when I receive money on OPay?
Under the 2026 rule the sender pays. If you were charged on an incoming payment, check the date and description and ask OPay support.
Is EMTL the same as stamp duty?
No. EMTL was the earlier ₦50 levy usually taken from the receiver. Reports say stamp duty on the sender replaced it from 1 January 2026.
Sources
- Techeconomy: Stamp duty replaces EMTL, sender to bear ₦50 charge (1 Jan 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Kuda Business help: Stamp duty on transfers, Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (31 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- OPay official website · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.