The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that Nigerians are not required to obtain a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) before opening or operating bank accounts.
The clarification came after reports circulated suggesting that, from January 2026, individuals would be compelled to present a TIN to access banking services. The claims triggered public concern over possible new barriers to financial access.
In response, the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Chairman, Aderonke Atoyebi, described the reports as misleading. She issued a statement through her official X handle, explaining that the current tax system already integrates with existing national registries.
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According to her, “In recent debates about Nigeria’s tax reforms, a widespread misconception has taken root: that citizens without a TIN cannot own or operate a bank account. The reality is that Nigeria’s tax system has evolved to integrate seamlessly with existing national registries, ensuring that every eligible individual or entity is automatically identifiable for tax purposes.”
She added that the TIN framework links directly with platforms such as the National Identification Number (NIN) database for individuals and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records for registered companies.
Atoyebi noted that the TIN is a 13-digit identifier uniquely designed to capture details of taxable persons and entities. It encodes the year of issuance, the registry source, state of registration, and a cryptographic security fragment.
