Nigerian Revenue Service introduces mandatory unified tax number for all taxpayers

The Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) has announced the launch of a mandatory Taxpayer Identification system for every taxable individual and organization in the country as part of major reforms aimed at modernizing tax administration.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Joint Revenue Board, was revealed in a public notice released on Monday via the agency’s official X platform.

According to NRS, the new policy has legal backing from Sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act of 2025, which require all taxpayers to obtain a tax number.

The agency explained that the new system is intended to create a more coordinated and transparent tax structure at the federal, state, and local government levels.

“The Tax Number will serve as a single, unified identity for all taxpayers, enabling seamless interaction with tax authorities at the federal and local levels,” NRS said.

“It is designed to consolidate taxpayer records, eliminate duplication, and ensure more efficient management of tax-related information,” he added.

Under the new arrangement, the Tax Number is expected to function as a centralized identity framework that harmonizes taxpayer records nationally and simplifies tax-related transactions.

The revenue authority said the initiative will make tax registration, filing and payments easier for individuals, businesses and organisations.

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“This initiative will simplify the tax compliance process, including registration, tax filing, and payment procedures,” the agency said.

NRS also stated that the new digital framework will strengthen transparency and accountability in the country’s revenue collection system by improving monitoring of taxpayer activities and reducing revenue leakage.

“This system will increase transparency by enabling better visibility and tracking of taxpayer records while reducing leakage and increasing accountability in tax collection,” the agency said.

“This framework will also harmonize taxpayer information across all levels of government,” he added.

As part of the transition, NRS revealed that the newly introduced Tax ID system will replace the existing Tax Identification Number Validation API currently used by Ministries, Departments and Institutions, financial institutions and other service providers.

The agency directed organizations that require taxpayer integration and validation services for individuals, business names, and corporations to contact the Standardization and Modernization Department of the Joint Revenue Agency to gain access to the updated API infrastructure and integration procedures.

Corporate organizations seeking validation services for registered entities are also advised to engage the Tax Automation Department of the Nigerian Revenue Service for implementation guidelines.

This development is part of a broader effort by the tax authority to digitize Nigeria’s revenue administration system, improve compliance and strengthen coordination between tax agencies across the country.

Officials say these reforms are expected to close loopholes in the tax system, expand the national tax database and increase revenue generation through improved digital monitoring and harmonization of taxpayer records.