FIRS confirms NIN as Tax ID for individuals, while corporate CAC numbers replace separate tax identifiers under new law

Abdulrasheed Maina, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), announced in Abuja on Monday that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission has automatically become the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians.

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The announcement, made during a public awareness campaign on new tax laws shared via X, also clarified that registered businesses will no longer require a separate Tax ID.

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration numbers will now serve as official tax identifiers under the revised tax framework.

The clarification comes amid public concerns over the new tax laws, which mandate a Tax ID for transactions such as opening bank accounts.

The FIRS stressed that the requirement is not entirely new but has been reinforced under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, effective January 2026.

“The Tax ID unifies all Tax Identification Numbers previously issued by the FIRS and State Internal Revenue Services into a single identifier,” the FIRS statement read.

“For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used.

You do not need a physical card, as the Tax ID is a unique number linked directly to your identity.”

The FIRS explained that the new system is designed to simplify identification, reduce duplication, close loopholes for tax evasion, and promote fairness by ensuring that everyone who earns taxable income contributes appropriately.

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, told PUNCH Online that banks will be required to request a Tax ID from all taxable Nigerians as part of the federal government’s new tax administration framework.

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The Service urged the public to disregard misinformation surrounding the reform and reiterated that the new system aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in tax administration.