By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Inland Revenue Service has announced that the National Identification Number issued by the National Identity Management Commission will now automatically serve as the Tax Identification Number for individual Nigerians.
The clarification was made in a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws posted by the FIRS on its official X handle on Monday. The Service also stated that for registered businesses, the Registration Certificate number issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission will function as their Tax ID under the new tax system.
The announcement follows growing public concerns over provisions in the tax laws requiring a Tax ID for certain transactions, including bank account ownership.
According to the FIRS, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, scheduled to take effect from January 2026, mandates the use of a Tax ID for specific transactions. However, the agency stressed that the requirement is not new, noting that similar provisions have existed since the Finance Act of 2019 but have now been strengthened.
The Service explained that the new Tax ID system unifies all previously issued Tax Identification Numbers by the FIRS and state internal revenue services into a single identifier linked directly to an individual’s or company’s identity.
Under the framework, individuals will use their NIN as their Tax ID, while registered companies will use their CAC RC numbers, with no need for a separate physical card.
The FIRS said the reform is aimed at simplifying identification, reducing duplication, closing loopholes for tax evasion and promoting fairness in the tax system by ensuring that all eligible earners contribute appropriately.
