The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that from January 2026, the National Identification Number (NIN) will automatically serve as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians, while Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration numbers will function as tax identifiers for registered businesses.
The clarification, shared via a public awareness campaign on X, follows concerns about new tax laws requiring a Tax ID for certain transactions, including bank account operations. FIRS explained that the policy is anchored in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which strengthens existing provisions first introduced in the Finance Act of 2019.
According to the Service, the unified Tax ID system will simplify identification, eliminate duplication across federal and state tax agencies, and help close loopholes that enable tax evasion. FIRS also urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation, assuring that the reform is designed to enhance efficiency and transparency in tax administration.
Meanwhile, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, confirmed that banks will be mandated to request TINs from all taxable Nigerians under the new framework.
