The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that Nigerians do not need a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) to open or operate bank accounts, dismissing recent reports to the contrary.
The announcement follows widespread speculation that, as of January 2026, individuals without a TIN would be barred from accessing banking services—a claim that raised concerns over potential bureaucratic burdens.
Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Chairman, described the reports as misleading. In a statement on her official X account, she explained that “the TIN framework has been designed to integrate with existing national registries such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records.”
She further clarified that “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.” According to her, “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.”
The FIRS said the TIN is a 13-digit identifier, uniquely capturing details of taxable persons and entities. It incorporates information such as the issuance year, registry source (NIN for individuals, RC for companies), state of registration, and a cryptographic security fragment.
