The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has formally announced that the National Identification Number (NIN), issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), will henceforth serve as the Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) for individual Nigerians.
The disclosure, reported by Nairametrics, represents a significant policy shift aimed at deepening tax administration reforms, strengthening the national database, and improving compliance across the tax ecosystem. By harmonising identity and tax records, the government seeks to eliminate duplication, close revenue leakages, and enhance efficiency in taxpayer identification.
According to FIRS, the automatic adoption of NIN as a Tax ID is designed to simplify the tax registration process for individuals, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and improve the integrity of taxpayer data. The move aligns with broader federal government efforts to integrate public sector databases and deploy technology-driven solutions for revenue mobilisation.
Industry analysts view the policy as a strategic step toward expanding Nigeria’s tax net, particularly within the informal sector, while also supporting transparency and accountability in fiscal governance. However, they note that successful implementation will depend on data accuracy, inter-agency collaboration, and public sensitisation.
With this development, Nigerians are expected to use their NIN for tax-related transactions, filings, and engagements with the FIRS, reinforcing the NIN’s position as a central identifier in the country’s economic and regulatory framework.
