Nigerians Won’t Lose Bank Access Without Tax ID – JTB Clarifies Amid 2026 Reforms

The Joint Tax Board (JTB) has assured Nigerians that they will not be locked out of their bank accounts for lacking a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID), despite widespread reports suggesting otherwise.

Concerns spread after President Bola Tinubu signed four new Tax Acts, set to take effect from January 1, 2026. Many believed the new laws would make a Tax ID compulsory for anyone seeking to operate a bank account or access financial services.

But in a statement issued by Akpe Adoh, Head of Corporate Communications, the JTB dismissed the claims as misleading.

“Nigerians are hereby assured that they will continue to have access to their bank accounts and also continue to carry out financial transactions even beyond January 1, 2026,” the statement read.

The tax authority explained that Tinubu’s reform agenda is focused on simplifying compliance, reducing multiple taxation, and making the system fairer and more inclusive. The new framework also grants exemptions for vulnerable individuals and small businesses, while lowering tax rates for the majority of Nigerians.

To achieve this, the JTB, in partnership with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is rolling out a harmonised national tax identification system. This will automatically generate Tax IDs using the National Identification Number (NIN) for individuals and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration numbers for businesses.

According to the board, this initiative ensures that tax compliance will be seamless and will not disrupt Nigerians’ ability to access or use banking services.

The JTB urged the public to remain calm and ignore false claims that bank accounts will be restricted.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians will continue to have access to their bank accounts and financial services beyond January 1, 2026. No one will be denied access on account of not having a Tax ID,” it reaffirmed.

The board added that it remains committed to people-centred tax reforms that support economic growth, fairness, and ease of doing business, while ensuring Nigeria remains a “tax-friendly environment.”