At some point, you need to provide your TIN (taxpayer identification number) when entering a transaction. Instances such as paying tax, applying for a business permit or a bank account, or even signing up for an account in a stockbroker platform likely require a TIN verification.
If you already have your TIN, but you forgot this or lost the BIR document, how do you retrieve this number without going to a nearby BIR office?
One of the easiest ways to do so is to visit Google and search for relevant keywords or directly go to the bir.gov.ph website. However, if you cannot find the TIN verification retrieval function, then that’s because, as of writing, there’s no such facility available.
Despair not, however, as there are other ways to recover your BIR taxpayer identification number.
Before you think of applying for another TIN account, it is a criminal offense to possess multiple TINs and is punishable by law. So instead of filing for another TIN, follow the following options below:
There are at least three different ways to retrieve and recover your lost or forgotten TIN.
Call the BIR hotline.
Dial the Bureau of Internal Revenue trunklines at 981 7000 and 929 7676. For callers outside of Metro Manila, add the area code 02, so it becomes 02 981-7000. For callers outside the Philippines, dial using the Philippine country code +63 2 981-7000.
The line might be busy as you may be competing with other people trying to retrieve their lost TINs or asking other tax-related questions. Be straight to the point and polite to the answering party in this confidential conversation.
If you reach an interactive voice response system, select the corresponding number to Verify TIN. Before calling, prepare the following: complete name, date of birth, and registered address to verify your TIN.
Visit your BIR Regional Office.
If your area is close to the regional office of BIR, you can pay a visit for TIN verification. Go to the customer service or taxpayers’ general services booth to make your inquiry. Before going there, bring a valid identification: government-issued documents like a passport, driver’s license, or Philippine National ID.
You may be asked to submit an affidavit of loss for the lost TIN Card and the original TIN card for the damaged card, so having them handy helps a lot.
Likewise, it won’t hurt to bring supporting documents like marriage contracts (for tax-related topics related to joint business or income tax for you and your spouse.
Once you’re in the office, you can get the BIR form 1905 if you need to update personal information (address, contact details, etc.).
Ask a friend.
Visit the BIR website.
This is the fourth option for a reason: There’s no existing TIN retrieval system in place. The demand for this service is high, so we are hoping this will be in place soon.
For a country with growing Internet penetration, providing government services online (just like TIN verification for taxpayers) is a win-win situation for both the government and its citizens. It saves everyone time and makes facilities more efficient, as manpower assigned to this task can augment shortages in other tax-related roles.
After all, helping taxpayers facilitate their accounts is part of making it easier for them to settle tax obligations to the government. Soon as we learn, this new system is in place, and this article will be updated accordingly.
Read More:
- How to Register Your Business with BIR
- How to Register Foreign Business with PEZA
- Withholding Tax Table for Filipino Taxpayers
- Step By Step Procedure on How to Apply for NBI Clearance
- How to Register Your Pharmacy Business
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