How to Get a Tax ID (TIN) in Nigeria Online Using Your NIN

Need a Tax ID in Nigeria? You probably already have one. For individuals, it's linked to your NIN, and you can look it up free online in under a minute.

Enter your NIN, name and date of birth on the official portal at taxid.nrs.gov.ng (how it works) and it shows your 13-digit Tax ID. Businesses use their CAC number. Never pay anyone to "get" it for you.

Quick facts: TIN vs the new Tax ID

Source: Nigerian Tax ID Portal Goes Live, FCT Internal Revenue Service, checked September 2026.

What changed: your Tax ID is now tied to your NIN

Nigeria's tax system changed on 1 January 2026 under the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, which also renamed the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). One quieter but useful change: instead of a separate TIN certificate, individuals now use their National Identification Number (NIN) as the basis of their Tax ID, and registered companies use their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) number. If you haven't registered a business yet, see what CAC registration costs in 2026 before you start. It's less than most people think, especially for a limited company.

The Nigeria Tax Act calls this your "Tax ID". Section 155 of the Act requires anyone remitting VAT for you to record your Tax ID on the return, which is one reason you'll be asked for it more often now, from opening a business bank account to bidding for a government contract. Opening that account also means giving your BVN. See how to check your BVN on any network if you don't have it to hand.

If you had an old 10-digit TIN, you don't need to remember it. The new portal replaces previously issued TINs, and your NIN or CAC number is now what tax offices, banks and government agencies check. This is one of several changes covered in our Nigeria tax and money guides.

How to get your Tax ID online with your NIN

This is the whole process, and it takes most people under five minutes:

1. Go to taxid.nrs.gov.ng (the mirror site taxid.jrb.gov.ng works too).
2. Click the "Individual" tab on the homepage.
3. Select "National Identification Number (NIN)."
4. Enter your 11-digit NIN.
5. Click "Retrieve Tax ID."
6. Enter your first name, last name and date of birth exactly as NIMC has them on your NIN record. A mismatch (a nickname, a maiden name, a typo) is the most common reason the lookup fails.
7. Click "Continue." Your 13-digit Tax ID displays on screen.

That's it. The Joint Revenue Board and NRS describe it step by step as a self-service lookup. There's no form to submit and nothing to wait for, because the system simply pulls up the Tax ID already linked to your NIN.

Screenshot it or write it down when it appears, because the portal doesn't email it to you. You'll need the Tax ID again when you register or log in on NRS's Rev360 portal to file returns and pay tax. taxid.nrs.gov.ng only looks up the number. It doesn't file anything for you.

Don't have a NIN yet? Do this first

If you've never registered for a NIN, you need one before you can get a Tax ID, because the whole system checks against it. Start with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). You have to visit an enrolment centre in person for your fingerprints and photo, which can't be taken online, so it isn't an instant fix if you need your Tax ID the same day. Allow a few days before a tax deadline or a bank appointment that needs one. See our NIN registration cost and requirements guide for what to bring and how long it takes.

How a business gets its Tax ID

For registered companies, partnerships and enterprises, the steps run through your CAC number instead of a NIN:

1. Go to taxid.nrs.gov.ng and click the "Corporate" tab.
2. Select your organisation type (limited company, business name, incorporated trustee, and so on).
3. Enter your CAC registration number.
4. Click "Retrieve Tax ID." Your business's 13-digit Tax ID displays immediately.

If your business isn't registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission yet (say you're a sole trader running a phone accessories stall, a small catering business, or a POS agent stand) you'll need to register it with CAC first to get a registration number, which then becomes the basis of your business Tax ID. Many freelancers and small operators skip this until a client, bank or payment platform asks for a Tax ID directly; if you invoice international clients through PayPal or a similar platform, it's worth sorting out before someone asks and you're stuck doing it under time pressure.

Is retrieving your Tax ID really free?

Yes. Pulse Nigeria reported that the Nigeria Revenue Service confirmed the process is free, online or in person at a tax office, and the same report warns against paying agents to "get" you a Tax ID. The official NRS/JRB notice doesn't mention any fee either. It's a self-service lookup of a record that already exists.

Mistakes to avoid when getting your Tax ID

• Don't pay anyone for this. If an agent, a "business centre," or a website asks for money to generate your Tax ID, they're either charging you for a free government service or running a scam outright.
• Get your name and date of birth exactly right. The lookup matches your NIMC record letter for letter. If you've used a shortened first name, or your NIN record has a spelling mistake, it will fail, and you'll need to correct your NIN details with NIMC first, not on the tax portal.
• Keep your Tax ID somewhere safe once you have it. You'll be asked for it repeatedly: opening or updating a business bank account, registering for VAT, bidding on contracts, or filing your PAYE return.
• Salaried workers on PAYE still need one. Your employer deducts and pays tax for you, but you're still the taxpayer on record. Once you have your Tax ID, use our Nigeria PAYE calculator to see what you should be paying.
• Nigeria isn't the only country doing this. Tanzania has followed a similar path, tying TIN registration to your national ID (NIDA) number rather than issuing tax IDs separately.

Frequently asked questions

Is my old TIN still valid in Nigeria?

Your old 10-digit TIN itself doesn't disappear, but the new Tax ID system, live since 1 January 2026, replaced previously issued TINs as the reference number banks, government agencies and the NRS now use. For anything you need to do now (banking, filing, contracts) use your new 13-digit Tax ID, retrieved with your NIN.

How do I check my TIN using my NIN?

Go to taxid.nrs.gov.ng, click "Individual", choose NIN, and enter your 11-digit NIN plus your first name, last name and date of birth as NIMC has them. Then click "Retrieve Tax ID". Your 13-digit Tax ID appears on screen. The process is the same whether it's your first time or you're just checking.

Do I need a Tax ID if I don't have a registered business?

If you're an individual (salaried, self-employed or a freelancer), your Tax ID comes from your NIN automatically. You don't need to register a business to have one, only a NIN. That applies even if your income comes from abroad through something like Payoneer. See our guide on Payoneer fees and withdrawals in Nigeria for how that money arrives and what it costs to move.

What if the portal can't find my Tax ID with my NIN?

Double-check you've entered your first name, last name and date of birth exactly as they appear on your NIMC record, not how you usually write them. If it still fails, the mismatch is likely in your NIMC record itself, which you'd need to correct at a NIMC centre before the tax portal can match it.

Can I get a Tax ID without visiting an office?

Yes, for both individuals and CAC-registered businesses, the retrieval at taxid.nrs.gov.ng is entirely online and instant. You only need to visit an office in person if you're enrolling for a NIN for the first time or registering a new business with CAC.

Is there a deadline to get my new Tax ID?

There's no published deadline for individuals to retrieve theirs. But since it's now the number used for banking, contracts and tax filing, get it before someone asks for it in a hurry, especially if your name or date of birth might not match your NIMC record. That matters most if you're applying for a Tax Clearance Certificate, because you can't start without a working Tax ID.