To log into e-Tax, you need a ttconnect ID that's linked to your BIR file number, plus an e-Tax password. You get both by applying at a ttconnect Service Centre or by email. In person is usually done by the next business day. By email takes about two business days.
If you're planning to file, sort this out first. It's the one step nobody can do for you, and it's the step that most often holds people up on filing day.
New for 2027: the Budget announced mandatory electronic filing for all taxpayers (no start date yet), so an e-Tax login is about to matter for everyone. What mandatory e-filing means for you.
No BIR number yet? You need one first. Here's how to get a BIR number.
What is a ttconnect ID?
ttconnect is the Government of Trinidad and Tobago's online services platform. Your ttconnect ID is a 13-digit number that identifies you across government e-services, including e-Tax, the Inland Revenue Division's (IRD) online portal at etax.ird.gov.tt.
Having a ttconnect ID isn't enough on its own. It has to be linked to your BIR file number for e-Tax. That link is what lets you see your tax account and file returns.
How to Get Access to e-Tax
What to prepare
- Two valid IDs from: National ID card, Driver's Permit, Passport or Birth Certificate
- One proof of your BIR number, such as your Advice of BIR / BIR and Account Numbers letter, a Notice of Assessment, a Statement of Account or a Tax Clearance
- A signed ttconnect ID Disclaimer form
- Your email address and mobile number
Option 1: Apply in person
Visit a ttconnect Service Centre with your documents and say you're registering for e-Tax. Centres are in Arima, Bon Accord, Chaguanas, Curepe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande and St. James, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. Per an April 2026 IRD notice, in-person applications are completed by the next business day.
Option 2: Apply by email
Email scans of the same documents to a ttconnect Service Centre, along with a selfie of you holding one of your photo IDs. Expect about two business days.
What happens next
The IRD emails you your ttconnect ID and a temporary e-Tax password. Log in at etax.ird.gov.tt and change it. Your new password needs at least 8 characters, including an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a number and a symbol.
Already have a ttconnect ID for another government service? You still need it linked for e-Tax. Apply the same way, and include your 13-digit ttconnect ID.
Locked Out or Forgot Your Password?
- Forgot your e-Tax password: use the forgotten password option on the e-Tax login page and answer your security question.
- Forgot your security answer, or locked out: call the IRD at 800-TAXX (8299), option 1, or email etax@ird.gov.tt.
- Forgot your ttconnect ID number: contact ttconnect at 800-TTCN (8826) or info.ttconnect@gov.tt.
Don't leave this until the last week of April. Helpdesk queues get long close to the deadline.
No ttconnect ID? You Can Still File
e-Tax has a non-logged-in option for individual income tax returns from 2017 onward. You'll need:
- Your BIR file number and account number
- A BIR Letter ID, found on an Advice of Assignment (no older than 6 years), a payment receipt (no older than 1 year) or a Notice of Assessment (no older than 3 years)
The trade-off: you must print the Declaration Form, sign it in black or dark blue ink, and drop it off at an IRD Regional or District office. Your return isn't processed until it arrives, so it takes longer. The IRD says returns filed while logged in are processed within 24 hours.
Watch Out for Fake "Refund" Emails
In 2026 the IRD warned about scam emails promising tax refunds through a link. The IRD says it will never contact you with links or codes like that. Real IRD letters carry a Letter ID. Only ever log in by typing etax.ird.gov.tt yourself.
Once You're In
With e-Tax access sorted, filing is the easy part. TaxDash works out your return, then fills in every field on e-Tax for you while you're logged in. You review it and click submit. TaxDash never sees your ttconnect ID or password.
Start your return with TaxDash
Sources: ttconnect: e-Tax registration · IRD: Assistance for taxpayers to access e-Tax (April 2026) · IRD e-Tax FAQs · IRD: Non-logged-in returns FAQs · IRD: Email fraud advisory (April 2026) · Ministry of Finance: Budget Statement 2027 (PDF). TaxDash is independent and not affiliated with the IRD. Procedures can change, so check with the IRD or ttconnect if anything here doesn't match what you see.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to log into e-Tax in Trinidad and Tobago?
You need a ttconnect ID that has been linked to your BIR file number for e-Tax, plus your e-Tax password. The IRD emails you a temporary e-Tax password once your application is processed.
How long does it take to get a ttconnect ID for e-Tax?
Per an April 2026 IRD notice, applying in person at a ttconnect Service Centre is completed by the next business day, and applying by email takes about two business days.
Can I register for e-Tax completely online?
You can apply by email instead of visiting a centre. You send scans of two valid IDs, proof of your BIR number, a signed ttconnect ID disclaimer, your email address and mobile number, and a selfie holding one of your photo IDs.
I forgot my e-Tax password. What do I do?
Use the forgotten password option on the e-Tax login page and answer your security question. If you don't remember the answer or you're locked out, call the IRD at 800-TAXX (8299), option 1, to have it reset.
Can I file my tax return without a ttconnect ID?
Yes. e-Tax has a non-logged-in option for individual returns from 2017 onward, using your BIR file number, account number and a BIR Letter ID. You must then print, sign and drop off a declaration form at an IRD office, and the return takes longer to process.