Nigerians, including entertainers, content creators and business owners, will no longer need a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) from 2026, following a new clarification by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The tax authority announced that the National Identification Number (NIN) will automatically serve as the Tax ID for individuals, while registered businesses will use their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number under Nigeria’s new tax system.
The clarification was shared via a public awareness campaign on X on Monday, amid growing conversations online about how the new tax laws could affect bank accounts and financial transactions.
What the new tax rule means
According to the FIRS, the policy is backed by the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which takes effect in January 2026.
The law requires a Tax ID for certain transactions, but the Service stressed that Nigerians are not being asked to obtain any new documents.
“For individuals, your NIN automatically becomes your Tax ID, while companies will use their CAC RC numbers,” the agency said, adding that no physical card or additional registration is required.
Online reactions and clarifications
The announcement sparked conversations across social media, with some Nigerians expressing concern that accounts could be frozen under the new tax framework.
Addressing the speculation, the FIRS urged the public to ignore misinformation, noting that the Tax ID requirement has existed since 2019 and is only being strengthened, not newly introduced.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, had disclosed that banks would begin requesting tax identification details from taxable Nigerians as part of the updated framework starting in 2026.
Watch the video below…
ABOUT YOUR TAX ID: The Tax ID unifies all things previously issued by FIRS and state IRS into a single identifier. For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID; for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used. You don’t need a physical card. The Tax ID is a… pic.twitter.com/4Hp3LJth7x
— TheCable (@thecableng) December 22, 2025