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The short answer
An individual in Nigeria gets a TIN free of charge through the Joint Tax Board (JTB) portal: first search with your NIN or BVN, date of birth and names to see whether you already have one, and if none is found, register as an "Individual" using your NIN or BVN and choose your nearest tax station. Techeconomy's December 2025 guide reports that the TIN is then sent to your email, usually as a downloadable certificate, and that a valid Tax ID is required for banking and financial transactions from 1 January 2026.
Why you may need one now
For years many salaried Nigerians never needed to know their TIN: their employer handled PAYE and the state revenue service held the record. That has changed. Techeconomy reported in December 2025 that "from January 1, 2026, a valid Tax ID will be required for banking and financial transactions", and the same guide says that for most individuals the NIN "already doubles as a Tax ID". In practice, you meet the question when you open an account, register a business name, apply for a loan or grant, bid for a contract or apply for a tax clearance certificate. Lagos lenders such as the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, for example, ask applicants for a Lagos tax ID in their FAQs.
Before you register: check whether you already have one
Many people already have a TIN without knowing it, because an employer, bank or state revenue service created one using their details. Registering twice causes trouble later, so search first. Techeconomy's guide describes the search on the JTB TIN verification portal (tinverification.jtb.gov.ng): enter your NIN or BVN, your date of birth, first name and last name. If a TIN comes back, note it and stop. Our guide to checking a TIN on the JTB portal covers what the result means.
Steps to register as an individual
- Have your NIN or BVN ready, together with your date of birth exactly as it appears on that record.
- Open the JTB TIN registration page and choose "Individual".
- Select NIN or BVN as your identifier and enter the number.
- Fill in the details requested, making sure your name order and spelling match your NIN or BVN record.
- Choose the tax station nearest to where you live or work. This links you to the relevant tax office.
- Submit, then check the email address you gave. Techeconomy reports that the TIN is usually sent as a downloadable certificate.
What you need
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| NIN or BVN | The portal uses it to pull and confirm your identity |
| Date of birth | Must match the NIN or BVN record or the search and registration fail |
| Working email address | Where the TIN certificate is sent |
| Phone number | For contact by the tax office |
| Residential address | Determines the tax station and state |
If your NIN and BVN details disagree, for instance a different date of birth or a missing middle name, fix that first; see our guide to BVN and NIN details that do not match.
What it costs
Nothing. Techeconomy's guide states that "TIN registration is free of charge". You may see people offering to "process" a TIN for a fee; what they sell is help filling in the same free form. If you use someone, make sure the email address and phone number on the registration are yours, because that is where the certificate and any tax office contact will go.
After you have your TIN
Getting the number is the first step, not the last. Keep the certificate as a PDF somewhere you can find it, and give the number to anyone who needs it to deduct or report tax for you: your employer, a bank where you hold investments, or clients who deduct withholding tax from your invoices. If you earn outside a salary, from a side business or freelance work, you will normally deal with your state internal revenue service for personal income tax and may need to file a return each year. Keep the TIN, your NIN and your state payer ID, if you are given one, together, because forms ask for them in different combinations.
If you later change your name, for example after marriage, or move to another state, update the record rather than registering again. Duplicate TINs are one of the most common reasons later tax clearance applications stall.
If the portal does not work for you
- Search returns nothing but you think you have a TIN: try the other identifier (BVN instead of NIN, or the reverse) and check your date of birth format.
- Registration fails: the cause is usually a mismatch with your NIN or BVN record. Correct the record at NIMC or your bank first.
- No email after registering: check spam, then search the verification page again; if the TIN shows there, you can note it from the result.
- Still stuck: visit the tax office you selected, or your state internal revenue service, with your NIN slip and a photo ID.
If you have lost a TIN you know you had, see how to retrieve a forgotten TIN. Self-employed people should also read sole proprietor tax in Nigeria.
Where Pryme fits
When you open a Pryme account, have your NIN, BVN and tax ID details to hand, as Nigerian accounts are built on that identity record. Your Personal Assistant can keep reminders for tax dates; it prepares, and nothing moves without your approval.
Questions people ask
How can I get my TIN number online in Nigeria?
Search the JTB TIN verification portal with your NIN or BVN, date of birth and names. If none exists, register as an individual on the JTB portal and the TIN is usually emailed to you.
Is TIN registration free?
Yes. Techeconomy's December 2025 guide states that TIN registration is free of charge.
Is my NIN my TIN?
Techeconomy reports that for most individuals the NIN already doubles as a Tax ID. Check your status on the JTB verification page.
Do I need a TIN to open a bank account in 2026?
Techeconomy reported that a valid Tax ID is required for banking and financial transactions from 1 January 2026. Ask your bank how it applies to your account.
Sources
- How to generate your Tax ID via JTB ahead of 2026 (Techeconomy, 18 December 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- LSETF loan application FAQs (Lagos State Employment Trust Fund) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.