The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will now serve as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians.
The clarification was made during a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws shared by the Service on Monday. According to the FIRS, registered businesses will also no longer need a separate TIN, as their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number will automatically function as their official tax identifier.
The announcement follows public concerns over provisions in the new tax laws that require a Tax ID for certain transactions, including the operation and ownership of bank accounts.
Explaining the policy, the FIRS stated that the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), scheduled to take effect in January 2026, mandates the use of a Tax ID for specific transactions. The Service emphasized that this requirement is not entirely new, noting that it has existed since the Finance Act of 2019 but has now been strengthened under the NTAA.
According to the FIRS, the new Tax ID system unifies all Tax Identification Numbers previously issued by the FIRS and State Internal Revenue Services into a single identifier.
“For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC registration number is used,” the Service said. “There is no need for a physical card, as the Tax ID is a unique number directly linked to your identity.”
The FIRS explained that the reform is aimed at simplifying identification, reducing duplication, closing loopholes for tax evasion, and promoting fairness by ensuring that all individuals and entities earning taxable income contribute appropriately.
The Service urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation surrounding the reform, assuring the public that the new tax framework is designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and trust in the country’s tax administration system.
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