FIRS Clarifies Nigerians Don’t Need Separate TIN to Operate Bank Accounts

 The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed claims that Nigerians must obtain a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) to own or operate bank accounts.

The clarification follows widespread concerns after reports suggested that from January 2026, bank customers would be required to present a TIN.

Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, explained via X that the reports were misleading. She noted that the TIN system is fully integrated with existing national registries, including the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records for businesses.

According to Atoyebi, “A Nigerian walking into a bank with their NIN is already tax-compliant. The bank simply retrieves their TIN as part of the onboarding process.”

She emphasized that the 13-digit TIN automatically links to NIN or CAC records, ensuring tax compliance without imposing extra bureaucratic hurdles. The new framework, she added, strengthens fraud prevention, improves regulatory compliance, and promotes financial inclusivity.