How to Check Your Tax ID Number in Nigeria

A Tax ID has 13 digits. Your NIN has 11. Paste one into the box meant for the other when you check your Tax ID number and the portal tells you nothing useful, which is exactly how simple tax filings turn into week-long delays and awkward calls to your accountant.

Since 1 January 2026, one number is meant to follow you through every tax office in Nigeria. Most people have never seen theirs. This guide shows how to read it off the official portal in about a minute, what to do when the portal refuses, and why a client may ask for it before they pay you.

To check your Tax ID number, open the official portal at taxid.nrs.gov.ng, choose Individuals, select National Identification Number and enter your 11-digit NIN. Confirm your name and date of birth exactly as NIMC holds them. Companies choose Corporate and enter their CAC registration number. The portal then displays your 13-digit Tax ID.

Protect your NIN. Type it only on taxid.nrs.gov.ng, after checking the address bar. This site never asks for it, and nobody may charge you to read your own Tax ID.

What is the Tax ID, and when did it replace the TIN?

The Tax ID is a unique, system-generated number for every taxable person. For an individual it is linked to the NIN. For a business or organisation it is linked to the CAC registration number. The Joint Revenue Board (JRB) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS, formerly FIRS) opened the portal to all taxpayers on 1 January 2026, according to the FCT-IRS notice of 29 December 2025.

Date	What happened	Source
January 2020	Finance Act 2020 makes a tax ID a condition for business bank accounts	BusinessDay, 17 Dec 2025
29 Dec 2025	JRB and NRS announce the Tax ID portal	FCT-IRS, Nairametrics
1 Jan 2026	Tax ID takes effect and replaces previously issued TINs	FCT-IRS
18 May 2026	NRS says Tax ID will replace the TIN Validation API for MDAs and banks	Premium Times

Do old TINs still work? No official notice we found sets an expiry date or a deadline for linking a TIN to a NIN or CAC number. FCT-IRS says the Tax ID replaces previously issued TINs. A December 2025 BusinessDay explainer said existing TINs remain valid and holders need not re-register. Retrieve your Tax ID now, compare it with your old TIN, and use the 13-digit number on new documents.

What does the law say about the Tax ID?

The rules sit in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025. The gazetted text is short on this point and clear.

Section	What it says	Why it matters
4	Every taxable person must register and obtain a Tax ID	It is a duty, not a favour
7(5), 7(7)	One valid Tax ID per person, and it cannot be shared	Never use someone else's number
8(1)(a)	The Tax ID must appear on returns and tax documents	No number, no valid filing
8(1)(c)	Needed to contract with government bodies	Tenders ask for it
8(2)	Banks and insurers must make it a precondition for opening accounts	Expect the question at account opening

What happens if you have no Tax ID?

Section 100(1) fines a taxable person who fails to register under section 4. The penalty is ₦50,000 for the first month and ₦25,000 for each later month the failure continues. Six months without registration costs ₦175,000.

Here is the part most people miss. Section 100(2) puts a ₦5,000,000 administrative penalty on a statutory body or company that awards a contract to an unregistered person. The heavier fine lands on your client, not on you. That is why procurement teams now ask for the number before they sign.

The rumour that you lose your bank account without a TIN is wrong. TheCable's fact check rated it false, while noting that banks are required to request a Tax ID from taxable persons.

Keep proof. Take a screenshot of the result, store it with your tax papers, and give the same 13 digits to your employer, bank and clients. If a figure ever differs between two documents, the portal result is your reference. Nobody should charge you to read it, and nobody needs your NIN except the portal itself.

Which route fits you?

You are	Portal tab	You enter
Employee or sole trader	Individuals	11-digit NIN
Company, business name or incorporated trustees	Corporate	CAC number (RC, BN or IT)
Non-resident company or government body	Others	Entity details

How do you check your Tax ID as an individual?

1. Open the portal. Type taxid.nrs.gov.ng and check the address bar. FCT-IRS also lists taxid.jrb.gov.ng as an address.
2. Select Individuals. It is the first of three tabs.
3. Choose the method. Under Tax ID retrieval method, select National Identification Number.
4. Enter your 11-digit NIN. Forgotten it? The portal says to dial *346# on the phone line you gave NIMC.
5. Tick the consent box and click Retrieve Tax ID.
6. Confirm your details. FCT-IRS describes entering first name, last name and date of birth exactly as NIMC captured them, then clicking Continue. Your 13-digit Tax ID appears. Save a screenshot.

How do you check a company's Tax ID?

1. Select Corporate.
2. Choose the organisation type that matches your certificate.
3. Enter the CAC registration number exactly as printed.
4. Click Retrieve Tax ID. The 13-digit number is displayed.

What if the portal says no?

Most failures are data mismatches, not system faults. These are the common ones.

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
Details do not match	Names in a different order, or a married name not on NIMC	Copy your NIN slip exactly, or correct NIMC
NIN not found	Typing slip, or no NIN yet	Recheck 11 digits, or enrol first
*346# returns nothing	Phone line differs from NIMC record	Use the registered line
Company not found	Wrong organisation type or number	Match RC, BN or IT on the certificate
Page slow or down	Traffic	Retry later, or try the JRB address

A wrong name or date of birth needs fixing at NIMC. Read how to update your Tax ID information. No NIN yet? Start with how to register a new Tax ID.

Where will you use the number?

• Tax returns and online payments.
• Tax clearance certificates.
• VAT invoices, which carry the supplier's number.
• Payroll, where employers record each employee's Tax ID.
• Government contracts and bank account opening.

The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 explains the taxes themselves. The number only identifies you. It creates no bill.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my Tax ID number with my NIN?

Open taxid.nrs.gov.ng, choose Individuals, select National Identification Number, enter your 11-digit NIN, tick the consent box and click Retrieve Tax ID. Confirm your name and date of birth as NIMC holds them. The portal then displays your 13-digit Tax ID.

What if I do not know my NIN?

The portal tells you to dial *346# on your phone. You must use the same line you gave the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) at enrolment. If that line is dead or lost, change the number at NIMC first, then try again.

Is the Tax ID the same as the TIN?

No. The unified Tax ID replaces previously issued TINs, according to FCT-IRS. It has 13 digits and is linked to your NIN or CAC number. No official expiry date for old TINs has been published, so retrieve your Tax ID and use it going forward.

How many digits does a Tax ID have?

Thirteen. The NIN that individuals use to retrieve it has eleven. If the portal rejects your entry, count the digits first, because mixing the two numbers is the commonest slip. Your Tax ID appears on screen only after a successful retrieval.

Does checking my Tax ID create a tax bill?

No. Retrieval only shows your identifier. What you owe depends on your income, sales and the tax laws that apply to you. Not registering, however, can carry a fine under section 100 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, starting at ₦50,000 for the first month.

Do I need a Tax ID if I am a salaried employee?

Section 4 requires every taxable person to register and obtain a Tax ID, and employers record staff numbers for PAYE. Because your Tax ID is linked to your NIN, you can usually retrieve it straight away. Individuals who are not taxable are not required to obtain one.

How do I check a company's Tax ID?

Select Corporate on the portal, choose the organisation type, enter the CAC number (RC for companies, BN for business names, IT for incorporated trustees) and click Retrieve Tax ID. Newly registered entities may need CAC to update their record before the number appears.

Sources and last verified 8 November 2026: FCT-IRS Tax ID notice (29 December 2025), Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 gazette text (sections 4, 7, 8 and 100), TheCable Fact Check, BusinessDay (17 December 2025), Nairametrics (29 December 2025) and Premium Times (18 May 2026). Rules change, so confirm with the NRS.

Run your salary through the PAYE calculator to see what tax your Tax ID is attached to.