‘Tax ID Won’t Trigger Automatic Bank Deductions’ — Revenue Board Clears Rumours
Concerns over alleged automatic bank deductions linked to Nigeria’s newly introduced Tax Identification system have been dismissed by the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Mr. Olusegun Adesokan.
Adesokan, who spoke to PulseNets, firmly rejected widespread claims suggesting that the Tax ID portal would empower banks to debit citizens’ accounts without authorisation. He clarified that obtaining a Tax Identification Number does not confer any mandate on financial institutions to access or withdraw funds outside established legal and regulatory procedures.
The clarification followed increased activity on the newly deployed Tax ID portal, which became operational on January 1, 2026. PulseNets learnt that thousands of Nigerians have since retrieved their unique identification numbers through the centralised taxpayer database.
The digital platform, jointly managed by the JRB and the Nigeria Revenue Service, is designed to streamline tax administration nationwide by consolidating taxpayer records into a unified system.
Addressing the controversy, Adesokan told PulseNets that narratives surrounding automatic deductions were speculative and lacked policy backing. He commended early adopters of the system and encouraged broader participation in the ongoing tax reforms.
“I commend patriotic taxpayers who stood in solidarity with the government on this tax reforms. I thank every taxpayer who was not swayed by the negative propaganda against the reform and the Tax ID.
“Now, it is obvious that the speculation that monies will be deducted arbitrarily from people’s bank account from January 1, 2026, was unfounded. It is also obvious that the rumour about automatic taxation of people’s money once they get a Tax ID is also false.”
He further explained that the structure of the tax reforms was deliberately crafted to shield low-income earners while stimulating economic expansion. According to details obtained by PulseNets, built-in incentives are embedded within the framework to support individuals and enterprises across varying income brackets.
Adesokan urged Nigerians yet to retrieve their Tax Identification Numbers to utilise the official portal, noting that it operates as a secure self-service interface. He added that the system aligns with data privacy standards issued by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, reinforcing safeguards around citizens’ personal information.
PulseNets gathered that implementation of the reform framework has commenced at both federal and state tiers of government. The JRB leadership expressed confidence in a seamless nationwide rollout and appealed for sustained public cooperation.
Meanwhile, taxpayers who have accessed the portal reported positive user experiences. Several users told PulseNets that the retrieval process was straightforward, time-efficient, and required minimal external support.
Under the revised system, individuals can generate a unique 13-digit Tax ID using their National Identity Number (NIN), while corporate entities retrieve their numbers through registration credentials issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission and other recognised government agencies.
Officials told PulseNets that the harmonised database is expected to eliminate fragmented taxpayer records, enhance inter-agency coordination, strengthen revenue administration, and bolster data security across Nigeria.
The Tax Identification initiative forms a critical component of the broader fiscal reform agenda under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax infrastructure and improving compliance efficiency.
Also Read: Tax ID Becomes Mandatory for All Taxable Nigerians to Operate Bank Accounts From 2026
To assess user satisfaction, the JRB Help Desk team conducted a digital feedback survey across Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, and structured phone interviews. Participants responded to four targeted questions evaluating their experience with the portal.
According to the head of the Help Desk team, over 98 percent of respondents reported that retrieving their Tax ID was seamless, reinforcing confidence in the system’s usability and technical stability.
