How to Get a TIN for a Business Name in Nigeria (Step-by-Step Guide)

February 12, 2026 Prosperity Olawuyi, ACA.

Registering your business name with the CAC is only half the battle. As of January 1, 2026, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025 has made the Tax Identification Number (TIN) the “financial DNA” of your business. Without it, your corporate operations will grind to a halt.

Here is the simplified, 2026-ready blueprint for securing your business TIN.

Why You Need a Business TIN in 2026

In the current tax climate, a TIN is no longer just for “big companies.” You need it to:

Prevent Bank Freezes: Banks now mandate a verified TIN to keep business accounts active.
Access Credit: Federal grants, SMEDAN loans, and private tenders require a 13-digit NRS-validated TIN.
Legal Compliance: To remit VAT or Withholding Tax (WHT) on behalf of your clients.

The 2026 Shift: Your BN Number is your TIN

The most significant investigative finding of the 2026 reforms is integration. For most new businesses, the CAC Business Name (BN) number now automatically serves as the TIN. However, older businesses or those with “Pending” statuses must still trigger manual retrieval.

Requirements for Business Name TIN

Before starting, gather these digital documents:

CAC Certificate of Registration (showing your BN number).
Status Report (downloadable from the CAC portal).
NIN of the Proprietor (Must be linked to your phone number).
Business Address Proof (Utility bill or lease agreement).

Step-by-Step Guide to Secure Your TIN

Step 1: The NRS Digital Retrieval

Most business names registered after July 2025 have an auto-generated TIN.

Visit the NRS Tax ID Portal.
Select the “Corporate” tab.
Enter your BN Number (digits only).
Click “Retrieve Tax ID.”

Step 2: Physical Validation (If Retrieval Fails)

If the portal says “No Record Found,” you must “Domesticate” your TIN.

Visit the nearest Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office.
Present your CAC documents and NIN.
Ask for “Data Harmonization” to link your BN number to the NRS database.

Step 3: Verification on the JTB Portal

Once you have your 13-digit number, verify it on the Joint Tax Board (JTB) website to ensure it is “Active” for banking purposes.

Common Mistakes That Trigger Penalties

Using Personal TIN: You cannot use your personal NIN-linked TIN for business transactions. It must be the one linked to your BN.
Paying “Agents”: Generation and retrieval of a TIN are 100% Free.
Mismatched Data: If your business address on your utility bill differs from your CAC filing, your verification will fail.

Summary

Securing a TIN is the final step in legitimizing your business. In 2026, transparency is the only way to grow. Ensure your records are clean, your BN is linked, and your status is active.

NRS Portal Guide