Bank Alerts Customers: Accounts Without TIN or NIN Will Be Restricted from January 1, 2026

Fidelity Bank Plc has informed its customers that bank accounts not linked to a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or National Identity Number (NIN) will face transaction restrictions starting January 1, 2026. The notice, sent directly to account holders, cites provisions of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025 as the legal basis for the enforcement.

The bank’s message emphasized that the NTAA mandates all bank accounts to be connected to a TIN. Customers without a tax ID are required to link their NIN to ensure uninterrupted access to their accounts.

“The Nigerian Tax Administration 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). Accounts not updated may be restricted from transacting starting January 1, 2026. To ensure your account remains active, please update your NIN promptly,” the notification stated.

The announcement follows the federal government’s confirmation of a clear timeline for stricter tax compliance, requiring banks to collect TINs from all taxable Nigerians operating bank accounts beginning in 2026.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, highlighted that enforcement is grounded in Section 4 of the NTAA, which legally obliges all taxable persons—individuals earning income through trade, business, or other economic activities—to register and obtain a TIN.

He explained that the policy is not entirely new, as a similar requirement was introduced under the 2020 Finance Act but was not fully implemented. The NTAA now provides the legal framework to ensure comprehensive compliance across the banking sector from 2026, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader agenda of formalising tax administration and enhancing revenue generation.

Customers are advised to link their TIN or NIN to their accounts as soon as possible to avoid disruption of services, while banks are expected to begin enforcing the restrictions on all non-compliant accounts from the start of the new year.

This move underscores the federal government’s commitment to strengthening tax compliance and integrating all financial transactions within a transparent and accountable system.