iDeemlawfulFidelity Bank Plc has announced plans to impose restrictions on customer accounts that are not linked to a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or National Identity Number (NIN) beginning January 1, 2026.
The bank made this known in a notification issued to its customers, referencing provisions of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025.
According to the notice, the law requires all bank accounts to be connected to a TIN, while customers who do not have a TIN are expected to link their NIN instead.
“The Nigerian Tax Identification Act (NTAA) 2025 stipulates that all bank accounts are required to be linked to a tax ID or National Identity Number—NIN (for customers without a tax ID). This act would come into effect on January 1, 2026.
“This implies that accounts without tax ID or national identity number may be restricted from transacting as from January 1, 2026. To ensure your account remains accessible, please update your NIN on your account as soon as possible,” the message read.
The announcement follows the Federal Government’s declaration of a clear timeline for tighter tax compliance, which will compel banks to request TINs from all taxable Nigerians operating bank accounts starting in 2026.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, confirmed the policy shift in a recent interview shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Oyedele explained that the enforcement is based on Section 4 of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act, which legally requires all taxable individuals to register and obtain a TIN.
“A taxable person is anyone who earns income through trade, business, or any economic activity. So banks must request a tax ID from taxable persons,” he stated.
He noted that the requirement is not entirely new, as it was initially introduced under the 2020 Finance Act but was never fully implemented.
According to him, the NTAA now establishes the legal backing needed to guarantee full compliance across the banking industry from 2026.
