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How to get a TIN number in Uganda online: free Instant TIN with your NIN
A TIN is free. If you have a National ID number and a working phone, URA's Instant TIN form gives you the number in about 5 minutes, sent to your phone and email.
URA issues your Tax Identification Number free of charge, so you never need to pay an agent for it. It's a 10-digit number, and you'll need it for a first job in many places. If you've got a National Identification Number from NIRA, use the Instant TIN form on the URA website. URA says the application isn't checked by staff and you'll get your TIN within 5 minutes. If you don't have a NIN, there's a second route, and it's slower.
What you need for an Instant TIN
- Your National Identification Number (NIN), exactly as it appears on your National ID.
- A working mobile phone number.
- An email address, because URA sends the TIN to your phone and email.
Only people registered with NIRA who've been issued a NIN can use this form. Everyone else uses the individual registration below.
Get your TIN, step by step
- Go to ura.go.ug.
- Click the icon marked Get a TIN.
- Click the Instant TIN button.
- Select Individual.
- Type your National ID number.
- Fill in your details, your source of income, your address, your email and your phone number.
- Tick that you're not a robot and click submit.
- Look for your TIN on your phone and in your email.
Save the message somewhere safe, and give the number to your employer in writing.
If you don't have a NIN
Use URA's individual TIN registration. You complete and upload an Excel template online, and a URA officer checks and approves it, so it won't be instant. URA says you must submit copies of the signed registration forms with copies of your identification documents before a TIN is issued.
Ugandan citizen, 18 or over: National ID (mandatory), plus any of NSSF card, driving permit, employee ID, voter's card, passport, village identity card, financial card, or a bank statement for the past 90 days Minor: A copy of the legal or court document of guardianship Non citizen: Passport (mandatory), visa, work permit (mandatory), refugee ID (mandatory for refugees)
URA's table marks the National ID as mandatory for a citizen on this route too. If you've applied for a National ID and don't have one yet, call URA first and explain, using the numbers below.
Download your TIN certificate
The number alone is often enough, but some employers and banks want the certificate. Log in to the URA portal, select Taxpayer Profile under e-services, then click Print TIN Certificate. It downloads as a PDF.
If you've forgotten your TIN
- On the URA website, go to e-services, click Instant TIN, fill in the required fields and submit.
- Or open the AskURA app, enter the email or phone number you registered with, choose Individual and tap Submit. The app shows your details.
- Or visit a URA office or a One-stop station. URA says they're located in municipalities and at KCCA division offices.
Don't apply for a second TIN if you already have one. Use the steps above to find it first.
Getting a TIN doesn't mean you owe tax
URA calls the TIN an administrative requirement that applies to all taxpayers. It's only a number. On a job, your employer deducts PAYE, and there's nothing due on the first UGX 335,000 of monthly income. Our PAYE guide shows what you'd pay at each salary.
If anyone charges you for a TIN, they're charging for something URA gives away. Call URA's toll free lines, 0800 117 000 or 0800 217 000, if you get stuck.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a TIN free in Uganda?
Yes. URA says a TIN is allocated and issued free of charge.
How many digits does a TIN have?
Ten. URA describes it as a 10-digit unique number that identifies you as a registered taxpayer.
Can I get a TIN on my phone?
The Instant TIN is a web form, so a phone browser with data should do. You'll need your NIN and a working number, and the TIN is sent to your phone.
Do I need a TIN for a job?
URA says anyone likely to do tax related business with it needs one. Many employers ask new staff for it, so get yours before your first day. It takes minutes and it's free.