Eshioromeh Sebastian in Abuja
The Federal Inland Revenue Service has announced that the National Identification Number for individuals and the Corporate Affairs Commission registration number for businesses will become the official Tax Identification Numbers from January 2026.
In a public notice on Monday, the tax authority stated that this unified system under the new Nigeria Tax Administration Act will simplify identification, reduce duplication, and help curb tax evasion.
“For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used,” the FIRS stated. It clarified that no physical card is required, as the ID is a unique number linked directly to the holder’s identity.
The announcement comes amid public concern over provisions mandating a Tax ID for financial transactions. The FIRS noted this requirement is not new, having been introduced in the Finance Act 2019 and strengthened in the upcoming NTAA.
Providing further clarification, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, explained that only taxable persons—those earning income—are required to have the ID. “Individuals who do not earn income, such as students and dependents, do not need to obtain a Tax ID,” he said.
Data from the National Identity Management Commission shows that as of October 2025, approximately 123.9 million Nigerians have been issued a NIN, which will now double as their tax identifier.
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