Dennis Gabriel 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed claims that Nigerians must obtain a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) to open or operate bank accounts, insisting that the new framework integrates seamlessly with existing registries such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records.
The clarification follows widespread debate sparked by media reports suggesting that, from January 2026, Nigerians would be required to present a TIN before accessing banking services.
Reacting to the reports, the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, described them as misleading.
“In recent debates about Nigeria’s tax reforms, a misconception has taken root: that citizens without a Tax Identification Number cannot own or operate a bank account,” she said in a post on her official X handle on Saturday.
Atoyebi explained that the 13-digit TIN is automatically linked to existing identifiers such as NIN for individuals and RC numbers for registered businesses, cooperatives, and professional bodies. This integration, she noted, means banks do not require extra documentation to confirm tax status.
She highlighted key benefits of the framework, including fraud prevention, simplified compliance, inclusivity, and global compatibility. “In practice, 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 added.
Atoyebi stressed that the system was designed to reduce bureaucracy, not create barriers, and urged citizens to disregard misconceptions about banking restrictions.
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Mirian Gom 
Hussaini Ibrahim 