Taxpayers Hail New Tax ID Portal As Reform Rollout Gains Momentum

A cross-section of taxpayers has commended the newly launched national Tax ID portal, describing it as seamless, fast, and user-friendly.

The portal is jointly managed by the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). It was launched on January 1, 2026, as Nigeria’s centralised taxpayer database. The platform allows individuals to generate a unique 13-digit Tax Identification Number using their National Identity Number.

“Businesses can retrieve theirs using registration numbers issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission and other designated agencies,” JRB said in a statement yesterday.

The initiative is part of efforts to harmonise fragmented taxpayer records across federal and state systems into a single database. It aims to improve coordination, strengthen revenue administration, and enhance data security. The project aligns with ongoing fiscal reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking on the nationwide rollout, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Olusegun Adesokan, urged taxpayers yet to retrieve their Tax IDs to do so through the official portal. He said the platform was designed as a secure self-service system. He added that it complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission’s data protection regulations.

Adesokan dismissed earlier claims that financial institutions would begin arbitrary deductions from bank accounts from January 1, 2026. He described the allegations as unfounded and urged taxpayers not to be misled by misinformation. “It is now clear that the rumours about arbitrary deductions and automatic taxation are false,” he said.

He described the tax reforms as pro-poor and pro-growth. According to him, the reforms provide incentives for low-income earners and businesses. He added that implementation has commenced at the national and subnational levels.

Feedback from users was gathered through a structured questionnaire shared on Facebook, X, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Telephone interviews were also conducted.

The survey targeted taxpayers who had attempted to retrieve their Tax IDs.

Respondents answered four questions, three closed-ended and one open-ended.

According to the JRB Help Desk team, more than 98 percent of respondents reported a seamless experience.

“We asked how fast the process was, whether the portal was easy to navigate, if it was convenient, and how they would rate their overall experience,” head of the help desk team, Effiong Abasifreke, said.

“At the end of the poll, we collated and analysed the responses. Over 98 percent said the retrieval process was seamless,” he added.

Participants included both individual and corporate taxpayers. A respondent, Amina Yahaya from Abuja said the process took less than 10 seconds after inputting her NIN. She described it as seamless and pledged to recommend it to colleagues.

Oyedemi Jide from Lagos State said the portal was simple and easy to use. Tonai R., who responded via WhatsApp, described it as quick and convenient, with no inconveniences.

Adesokan expressed optimism about smooth execution. He called for sustained public cooperation to ensure the success of the reforms.