TIN-NIN transition to ease business registration

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Businesses stand to benefit from the transition from Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) to National Identification Numbers (NINs), according to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

The transition will see a taxpayer's NIN linked to their tax records to create a unique identifier that can be used across government services.

Christine Mirembe, URA's assistant commissioner for client services, urged Ugandans to take business registration seriously, saying it would enable them to benefit from government programmes and incentives.

“You need a NIN to register your business too. It is important for government to plan for the right population. In URA, when your business is registered with NIRA, you can gain from government incentives,” she said.

“You need to register as a Ugandan to reap benefits the Government offers its citizenry. We need to be responsible citizens who pay tax, so register your business with NIRA,” she said.

Mirembe was speaking during the My Identity Expo and Symposium organised by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

Elizabeth Akech, URA's acting manager of tax education, said linking the NIN to tax records would make it easier for businesses to register and update their information.

“It will be a simpler process because people previously complained that registration was a pain. You can register using your NIN by creating an account on the URA portal and making an amendment by adding your NIN. This is the best thing that has happened to Uganda,” Akech said.

She added that the unique identifier would also make it easier to link information held by URA and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). “When you go to KCCA and you have a TIN that doesn’t tally, you can easily map it with your NIN,” she said.

Akech said linking information across government agencies would also reduce duplication because NIRA, URA and local governments collect much of the same information during registration.

She said the transition would therefore help simplify registration and reduce the need for businesses and individuals to provide the same information repeatedly to different government agencies.

The expo, running from September 29 to October 1, is organised by NIRA and supported by Vision Group, Bank of Uganda, URA, KCCA, NITA-Uganda and Tahaluf.