The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly FIRS, and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) run the Tax ID lookup. It needs names and a date of birth that match the NIN record NIMC holds, so a small difference in your name can return nothing.
That matters, because a valid Tax ID is needed for banking, employment records, government contracts and statutory filings. The Tax ID went live on 1 Jan 2026.
If your search fails, the cause may sit in the NIN record at NIMC, not at the tax portal. This post shows how to find the difference. It is part of our NIN and NIMC guides.
What the lookup asks for
At taxid.nrs.gov.ng, you enter your NIN, first name, last name and date of birth as held by NIMC. The JRB runs the same lookup at taxid.jrb.gov.ng.
Names and date of birth must match the NIN record exactly. The number that comes back is usually 13 digits. It is linked to your NIN, and guides describe it as a separate number. The old TIN was replaced by the new Tax ID from 1 Jan 2026.
New to the Tax ID? Start with how to find your Tax ID number and what the new Tax ID is.
Step 1: read your NIN record
Download your NIN slip in NINAuth at ninauth.nimc.gov.ng. Go to Do More with NINAuth, then NIN Slip, then download. It costs free.
Write down the first name, last name and date of birth exactly as the slip prints them. Type those in the lookup, not the version on your bank card or work ID.
Step 2: check for mismatches
| What went wrong | What to try |
|---|---|
| Surname and first name typed in the wrong boxes | Copy the order the slip uses |
| A short form or nickname instead of the full name | Use the name as printed |
| Day and month swapped in the date of birth | Type the date as the slip shows it |
| The slip itself shows a wrong name or date | The NIN record needs a correction |
Try the lookup again after each change. If the first three rows do not fix it, check the last row against your earliest document.
Example: the boxes are the wrong way round
Say your slip prints your surname first and your first name second. On a phone, it is easy to type them in that order into boxes labelled the other way. The lookup then compares your surname with the first-name field and finds no match. Swap them and search again.
Was the mistake NIMC's?
The NIN record may be wrong because of an error NIMC made. For a date of birth, NIMC has confirmed that the correction is free if NIMC made the original error. Reports do not say how to claim it, so keep the papers you gave at enrolment. The post on the free date of birth fix has more.
Step 3: correct the NIN record
NIMC directs all data changes to its self-service portal at selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng. Enrolment centres stopped modifications on 2 Oct 2024.
A date of birth correction costs ₦28,574, and NIMC allows it only once. Other fields cost ₦2,000. Read the once-only date of birth rule before you pay for that one.
If you would rather not use the portal yourself, you can start a NIN modification with Docufy. It only collects your details in the right format. A vetted partner firm files it, and NIMC decides it. A NIN modification needs no office visit unless you change your photo.
Step 4: search again
When a fresh slip shows the corrected details, run the lookup again with exactly those details. Save the Tax ID it returns somewhere you will find it. A bank, an employer or a tender desk may ask for it.
The guide to modifying your NIN covers the change in full.
Common mistakes
- Retyping the same details again and again. The lookup will not change its answer.
- Changing your NIN date of birth to match another document without checking. It can be changed only once.
- Assuming you must register a new Tax ID from scratch. Guides say most taxpayers look theirs up rather than register again, so check on the portal first.
- Using an unfamiliar site. Use taxid.nrs.gov.ng or taxid.jrb.gov.ng, and type the address yourself.