I have been receiving a lot of calls in recent times about how to apply for TIN in Nigeria. You will find in here all the detailed steps you need to know to apply for your tax identification number.
Table of Contents
- 1 How to apply for TIN
- 2 What is a TIN?
- 3 Why do I need a TIN?
- 4 What else do I need a TIN for apart from tax identification?
- 5 How much will it cost me to apply for my TIN?
- 6 How long does it take to obtain my TIN
- 7 How to apply for TIN: Companies/ Business names
- 8 How to apply for TIN: Individuals
- 9 After registration and obtaining my TIN, what other things do I need to know?
- 10 What is next after reading this?
How to apply for TIN
Are you a Nigerian citizen working for a private organization or with the government. You own a business or you have the intention to start one? It is important that you know what a tax identification number is, and not only know but you also possess one.
A lot of small business owners believe that registrating their companies, business names with the CAC is all they need to be known as serious business men/women. However for an entity to be recognized in Nigeria, it goes way beyond registering with the CAC, but also registering for tax.
I have your attention right? Let’s start with identifying what exactly is a taxpayer identification number (TIN).
What is a TIN?
The tax identification number (TIN) is a unique identifier for an individual or a company for the specific purpose of tax remittance. The TIN number is prepared by the tax office and issued to individuals or registered business / incorporated companies for proper identification and verification.
Why do I need a TIN?
As a business or individual, TIN is important because that is what shows that you are a registered tax payer in Nigeria, and as you know that tax payment is made compulsory, every company, business, individual must have their own unique tax identification number. After completion of registration with the tax office, the entity or individual is issued a TIN.
Remember that registration for tax is a legal obligation for everyone who is required by LAW to remit taxes in Nigeria.
If your company or business operates for profit and income is generated from Nigeria, then you are required by law to apply for TIN. Please note that incorporated trustees DO NOT require TIN! Take note of THIS!
Do I hear you ask again, why you need a TIN?
What else do I need a TIN for apart from tax identification?
There are other important things that a TIN can be used for apart from identifying a business or individual as a registered tax payer. These things are equally important as well:
1. Opening a of business account
2. Application for government loans
3. For foreign exchange and receipt of capital importation into the country
4. A TIN is necessary for licenses relating to trade, import and export
5. Registration of cars
6. Certificate of occupancy application
7. To obtain the Tax clearance certificate for individuals and companies which shows that you are a tax compliant business
8. To obtain tax incentives, tax waivers and certain tax allowances. Remember the recent pioneer incentive given to TSTV Africa?
Do you have other things that you know TIN is used for? Drop them in the comment section below. We can all learn together, can’t we?
How much will it cost me to apply for my TIN?
Applying for TIN is totally free IF YOU DO IT ON YOUR OWN and if you have not incurred any tax penalty based on the time-frame given according to the LAW to obtain your TIN, either as an individual or as a company. There are no fees to be paid unless you intend to employ third parties to assist you in registering and obtaining the TIN.
There could be a lot of bottlenecks in the back and forth involved in liaising with the tax authorities for the receipt of your TIN. It will be better to shift the responsibilities on a third party so you can focus on more strategic aspects of the business.
How long does it take to obtain my TIN
The TIN processing by the various tax offices should not take more than 10 working days, however it may take longer based on the back and forth as mentioned above and also the various tax offices having to struggle with backlogs of requests and capacity deficiency with respect to treating TIN requests. It is therefore not uncommon to see certain cases where the TIN receipt processes drag on for about a month to two months.
The tax office will not send you a notification when your TIN is ready, therefore, the onus lie on you to check after the numbers of days given to check back has elapsed.
How to apply for TIN: Companies/ Business names
Application for TIN as a registered company
All registration statements have been made by the Joint tax board on registering for the TIN here. If you are also the tech savvy business person, you can do all your TIN registration online by checking the FIRS service platform here.
You need to know the various documents you would need to apply for TIN as a company already incorporated. Head over to the Federal Inland Revenue Service office closest to your company’s registered address in the list that is here, with the following documents
- Certificate of Incorporation forms CAC2 and CAC7
- Your memorandum and article of aasociation
- Your company seal – this will be used to stamp the TIN registration forms at the FIRS office.
- Utility Bill – PHCN or Water bills
- A written application to the office of the FIRS chairman on your company’s letter headed paper
- The completed TIN application form ( The FIRS office gives this form in triplicates, so you are expected to fill and submit the forms). The tax application will request for the following information:
- Name of your Company
- Registered Office of your company
- Business Address of your company ( you may leave this blank if your registered office is same as your business address)
- Precise Nature of your Business
- Date of company Incorporation
- Date the Company Commenced Business
- Accounting Date of your company
- Name and Address of Banker(s) ( if you have opened a bank account)
- Particulars of Major Shareholders of your company
- Particulars of Directors of your company
- Name and Address of Auditors for your company
- Name and Address of Tax Representative of your company
Please note that you would need to make as much photocopies of these documents as possible, because the originals will not be received by the tax office. They are basically for sighting purpose. The photocopies will be stamped and received as evidence that you have applied for TIN.
For Registered business names
Also, if you are a registered business name and not an incorporated company. Then you need to apply for your TIN via the VAT registration, there was a recent unification by the FIRS office whereby your VAT number will double as your TIN registration number. You can check out how you can register for VAT in this article here.
Also, in some situations, registration for TIN also comes simultaneously as registration for companies income tax and also value added tax as stated above. This can be possible if your incorporated business or company has been in operation within six months.
As soon as you receive your TIN, this should be displayed on all your official documents especially instruments of business/ financial transactions like your invoices. This is extremely key and important in the eventuality of a tax audit by any of the tax offices. The fact that the tax office now operates an integrated tax office now makes everything easy for tax payers.
Remember that registration for TIN also triggers other mandatory monthly tax filings like the VAT and Withholding tax returns. You can move away from the headache of making all these filings yourself by seeking the services of a tax consultant for advice and assistance.
You will be expected to quote your tax identification number alongside the name of your business any time you have dealings with the tax office. This is important.
How to apply for TIN: Individuals
Application for TIN as an individual
You have to head over to the nearest Inland Revenue Office along with the original and photocopies of your national recognized ID card like your driver’s license, permanent voters’ card, International passport etc.
You will also be required to complete and submit an application form.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIN OF AN INDIVIDUAL IS DIFFERENT FROM THE TIN FOR A BUSINESS NAME OR A INCORPORATED COMPANY.
After registration and obtaining my TIN, what other things do I need to know?
There is a process called TIN update and validation after obtaining a TIN. This ensures that the new TIN is confirmed and meets all other important conditions for business registration and transaction with other government parastatals and bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among others.
What is next after reading this?
If you intend to register for TIN and you feel you need my services to help you with that, then check out the CONTACT US page and shoot me an email. I can also help you network with other tax consultants within my network if there are more delicate tax issues to assist you on.
Remember that payment of tax is your civic and legal responsibility, so don’t treat it with levity. Now that you have an idea of how to apply for TIN in Nigeria.Got any questions?
Thank you for this great guide! I would be coming back for this when I’m ready to register my business.
Thanks for dropping by, Bobby.
Awesome. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
I PAY TAX AS AN EMPLOYEE OF A PRIVATE COMPANY IN LAGOS STATE AND I HAVE MY ETCC. HOW DO I GET MY FIRS TIN
Do you have a registered business or company? If not, you don’t need an FIRS TIN. Your e-TCC is all you need.
Nice info, every business owner needs this in Nigeria.
Hey! All thanks to Tax Prof… You’re the man. He provided me with the full info for obtaining my business TIN starting from the requirements, the TIN application letter not forgetting his advice also… Thanks once again.
A friend of mine directed me to this page, because he knew I was reluctant about TIN. After reading thus I think I will go ahead and get one for my business
l am a plumber, but I have not registered my business. how do I apply for a ( TIN )tax ldentification number? I really need it.
You will have to first register your business before you can apply for TIN.
Cheers
How will I have for my TIN I work has an Uber .
You have to register your company or business name frst before you can apply for TIN OR VAT number.
If you wish to register your company with CAC, you can contact me.
Can we have the online link for application of tin
Useful info. Thanks for sharing
Good morning Chief. We run a Cooperative society registered under cooperative section in Kaduna ministry of agriculture.
Do we need to go for TIN as a cooperative???
Ideally co-operative societies are NFP set up organizations and therefore should not be made to register for TIN. However if your organization is run for profit making, then everything changes.
Regards.
I need tin for my business
Hi can u contact me via email Pls, I am currently working for a big company and I asked for my TIN but dey waiving it and rather sending me a TCC. I actually think the TCC is doctored
What is TCC
Tax clearance certificate.
Hello, Have work for a company before and they deduct tax from my salary, but not working there again.l have registered my business name and I need Tin , what should I do, pls kindly tell me what I can do
Good day. Please how can I get a tax clearance certificate (TCC)? I already have a tax identification number (TIN) card. Thanks.
hi i formerly work with a company for 3 years and till i left i could not get my TIN what can i do, as my former HR said am suppose to be the one to go to tax office and request as an individual
Yes please.
Please walk into the closest State Inland Revenue Service to you and make enquires regarding your registration.
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Please taxprof, I obtained both business TIN and my personal TIN from Cross River State Internal Revenue Service and not FIRS. I’m I out of place? Also, I did not start my business again as proposed and it is over 6 months now, have I violated any laws?
How many digits code is Tax identication number?
Please, can you send me the address of the Inland Revenue Service office(s) in Abuja?
I need help with registering for TIN number as an individual. I am based abroad hence can’t go myself.
can anyone assist? please
Ask the owner of this link hell help u
Good day, I incorporated my company in 2012 but don’t have my TIN like how much will it cost me to get one for my company.
Thanks a lot!
need to apply
Thanks for the expository. Pls let me have a contact person as regards TIN for my business name. I already have one as an Employee. Pls keep up the info. Great Job!
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I work for a private sector organisation and tax deductions are being made on my salary every month for over 15 months, but I do not have a TIN.
What should I do or how do I go about getting a TIN?
after registering my Business with C.A.C how long can i wait before commencing business or applying for TIN without faulting
You can wait as long as you want before commencing business. The business is yours, but applying for TIN should not be more than 6 months after registering your business with the CAC.
Regards
wow!
Prof. am grateful for this information, thank you sir
knowing that am in the right place to get the accurate
information and also within a short period of time, please
i also want to know the following
1) it is stated that the tax will be 5%… my Question is…
Will it be deducted from the total amount that enters
the business account for the month or the profit?
2) if the answer above is the later, how will the business
owner be able to present his/her profit to the FIRS officials
since its only the Bank statement that will be presented.
3) How good it is to include tax in one’s business quotations…
should it be separated or included in the unit prize?
Thanks for your time
please i need to get my TIN , any assistance?
Good job. Kudos to you TaxProf. Please as a civil servant whose tax has been deducted from her salary, is it the same identification document that is needed when applying for TIN No?
Pls I really need the sample of the letter editable. Thanks
Good day, I registered my business name 6months ago. Please
1. I started operation in February 2019
2. As at now, i’m still operating on loss, i’ve not made profit
3. When is the best time to go start paying tax?
4. Is the State Board of Inland Revenue, a central office or each local government has its own?
5. Is there anything like holiday period before I start paying tax?
6. What are the things I need to apply for TIN?