Nigerians can operate bank accounts without separate TIN, says FIRS
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has debunked reports claiming Nigerians must secure a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) before they can operate bank accounts, stressing that the new tax framework is fully integrated with existing national databases such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records.
The clarification followed public concern triggered by media reports suggesting that, beginning January 2026, all Nigerians would be compelled to present a TIN to open or maintain bank accounts — a claim that sparked fears of additional red tape for citizens.
Responding to the controversy, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, described the reports as misleading in a post shared on her official X handle on Saturday.
“In recent discussions about Nigeria’s tax reforms, a common misconception has emerged: that individuals without a TIN will be denied access to bank accounts,” she wrote.
“The reality is that the tax system has been modernised to integrate with national registries, ensuring that every eligible person or entity is automatically captured for tax purposes.”
Atoyebi explained that the TIN is a 13-digit code uniquely designed to identify taxpayers across the country. The identifier encodes information such as the year of issuance, source registry (NIN for individuals, RC for companies), state of registration, and a cryptographic fragment for security, with a check digit at the end.
She emphasised that the TIN is not an additional requirement for Nigerians, but rather a statutory mechanism for verification within the national tax system. “For individuals, the TIN is automatically linked to their NIN,” she noted.
According to her, once a person provides their NIN — for example, during account opening or Know Your Customer (KYC) checks — the system automatically pulls up their TIN from the national database.
“In effect, a Nigerian presenting their NIN at a bank is already tax-compliant. The bank simply retrieves the TIN as part of its processes,” she explained.
Atoyebi concluded that the initiative is designed to enhance financial inclusion, strengthen regulatory transparency, and align Nigeria’s economy with global digital standards — rather than create new hurdles for citizens.
