FIRS dismisses rumours on tax identity law, says NIN, CAC numbers will become new IDs

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that individuals do not need a physical tax identification (ID) card, saying the national identification number (NIN) already serves as a tax ID.

In a sensitisation video on Monday, Aderonke Atoyebi, technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of FIRS, said the clarification became necessary following widespread rumours surrounding the implementation of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA).

The video was part of the agency’s efforts to raise awareness on the tax reform laws ahead of implementation in January.

Media aide said the use of tax IDs is not new, explaining that the requirement has existed since the Finance Act 2019 and has only been strengthened under the NTAA.

“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, while for companies, that is for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used,” Atoyebi said.

“You do not need a physical card. Please, enough of the rumors. You do not at all need a physical card. The tax ID is a unique number linked directly to your identity.

“The new tax ID system simplifies identification, reduces duplication, closes loopholes for tax evasion, and ensures fairness, so that everyone who earns taxable income contributes their share, while protecting non-taxable, low-income citizens.”

Atoyebi’s comments come after commercial banks asked customers to link their bank accounts to their NINs or tax identification numbers (TINs) ahead of the implementation of the new tax laws.

The banks said all accounts must be linked to a tax ID before 2026 to comply with the new legal requirements, adding that customers without a tax ID are required to link their accounts to a NIN.

In June, President Bola Tinubu signed four tax reform bills into law, comprising the Nigeria tax bill, the Nigeria tax administration bill, the Nigeria revenue service (establishment) bill, and the joint revenue board (establishment) bill.