The Federal Inland Revenue Service has announced that National Identification Numbers issued by the National Identity Management Commission will automatically function as Tax Identification Numbers for individual Nigerians. The clarification, shared Monday on social media, also confirmed that registered businesses no longer need separate tax identifiers—their Corporate Affairs Commission registration numbers will serve this purpose. The announcement addresses public concerns about new tax law provisions requiring Tax IDs for certain transactions, including bank account ownership.
According to FIRS, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, effective January 2026, mandates Tax ID use for specific transactions. The Service emphasized this requirement existed since the Finance Act of 2019 and has been reinforced under the new legislation. “The Tax ID unifies all Tax Identification Numbers previously issued by the FIRS and State Internal Revenue Services into a single identifier,” the Service said. “For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used.”
The new system aims to simplify taxpayer identification, eliminate duplication, prevent tax evasion, and ensure fairness in revenue collection. FIRS explained that no physical card is required, as the Tax ID is a unique number linked directly to each person’s identity. The Service urged Nigerians to ignore misinformation about the reform, assuring citizens the updated framework enhances efficiency and transparency in tax administration.