The Joint Tax Board (JTB) has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerians without a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) would be denied access to their bank accounts or prevented from conducting financial transactions from January 1, 2026.
In a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Akpe E. Adoh, on Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Board assured that citizens will continue to access their accounts and carry out transactions beyond the stated date.
The JTB explained that the Federal Government, under the tax reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is working to simplify and broaden tax compliance while protecting vulnerable individuals and small businesses. According to the Board, the reforms seek to eliminate multiple taxation, expand exemptions, and ensure that most Nigerians pay lower taxes under the new regime.
As part of the reforms, the JTB and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) are rolling out a harmonised National Tax Identification system in collaboration with state revenue services. The initiative will automatically generate Tax IDs using the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Registration Number for businesses.
“This will make compliance easier without disrupting banking or financial activities,” the statement said, urging Nigerians to ignore contrary claims.
The JTB stressed that without access to bank accounts due to the absence of a Tax ID and reiterated its commitment to people-centred tax policies that foster economic growth, fairness, and ease of doing business.
