Tunis: Business registration is a legal requirement, said Director General of the National Business Register (RNE) Adel Chouari. Obtaining the taxpayer identification number (TIN) does not entail the establishment of the business itself, he added, urging professionals to register their information with the business register. In an interview with TAP, Chouari highlighted the confusion between obtaining the TIN and registering with the National Business Register. He stated that individuals engaged in professions who are not registered do not have a legal status and could face conflicts with other businesses. He also addressed the issue of unregistered businesses, stating that no business can operate legally without being registered with the national business register. On the other hand, he pointed out that registration is not the first step in establishing a business. The initial step involves obtaining a TIN, followed by completing the procedures for registering with the business register. Chouari pointed out that the legal existence of a business begins from the date of registration with the RNE, either at its offices or through the electronic platform. He stressed that businesses are subject to sanctions for delays in registration or updating their data. He noted that any employee wishing to verify the legal existence of a business can consult the publicly accessible platform of the RNE, adding that some individuals use TINs belonging to other companies. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse