TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is a unique set of numbers assigned to each registered taxpayer in the Philippines. Every time you transact with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), it’s a fundamental requirement, hence the need to apply for it as soon as you enter the workforce.

This guide will teach you how to get TIN number, including the latest requirements, application process, and fees.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not substitute for professional advice.

Go back to the main article: Tax in the Philippines: An Ultimate Guide to Filing and Paying Taxes

What Is TIN?

A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is a unique system-generated number that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) assigns to every person registered in its database.

Since it’s a permanent number, you’re supposed to have only one TIN in your lifetime. If you already have a TIN, you should not get a new one even if you change jobs or shift from being employed to being self-employed.

What Is a TIN Used For?

The TIN gives the BIR a quick way to access, track, and process a taxpayer’s information and transactions with the national tax collection agency.

It works like a bank account number that allows the bank to identify the right account to debit or credit a financial transaction. The same goes for the TIN—it’s what the BIR uses to record correctly a tax return filed by a taxpayer.

What Is the TIN Format and Structure?

The TIN consists of nine to 12 digits, with the first nine being the TIN proper and the last three being the branch code (for corporate taxpayers). For individual taxpayers, the default value is 000 for the last three digits of their TIN.

The first digit of the TIN identifies the taxpayer type. TINs that start with 1 to 9 belong to individual taxpayers. If a TIN begins with zero (0), it’s owned by a corporation.

The first three digits of a TIN indicate when the TIN was issued. For example, TINs that start with the 000 series (for corporations) and 900 series (for individuals) were issued before the Integrated Tax System (ITS) implementation in 1998. Meanwhile, the BIR issued TINs that begin with the 200 and 400 series under the ITS.

Taxpayers who registered online are issued TINs starting with the 300 series.

Who Should Get a TIN?

All Filipino and foreign citizens required by law to pay taxes in the Philippines must first register with the BIR to secure a TIN. But before applying for a TIN, you must know the correct type of taxpayer you should register for.

Taxpayers are generally classified into two groups: individual and non-individual/corporate. Below are the types of taxpayers under each classification.

1. Individual taxpayers

a. Local employees

In BIR tax forms, local employees are called “Individuals Earning Purely Compensation Income.” The term refers to Filipinos who earn income solely through a salary from an employer based in the Philippines. Fresh graduates who need to get a TIN as a pre-employment requirement also belong to this taxpayer type.

b. Self-employed individuals

The BIR defines self-employed as “individuals engaged in a trade or business or those in the practice of a profession.” These are self-earning people who work for themselves instead of employers.

Specifically, the following persons fall under the self-employed taxpayer type:

• Single proprietors – Entrepreneurs who generate income from their business that’s registered as a sole proprietorship with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
• Professionals – Individuals who earn income from practicing their profession, including freelancers, lawyers, and those with a Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license, such as doctors, dentists, engineers, and certified public accountants (CPAs)
• Artists, entertainers, and athletes – People who pursue arts or sports and make a living from them, including actors, singers, dancers, theater performers, movie directors, writers, coaches, etc.

c. Mixed-income earners

As the term implies, mixed-income earners earn income simultaneously from business, profession, or employment.

BIR defines these taxpayers as any two or all of the following: local employees, single proprietors, and professionals.

For example, you’re a mixed-income individual if you’re currently working full-time for an employer while having a sideline.

Here’s another example from the BIR: a teacher employed in a school who works as a part-time tutor and runs a retail business. In such an instance, BIR requires mixed-income earners to register as local employees, professionals, and single proprietors simultaneously.

d. Foreigners

All foreign nationals who intend to work or start a business in the Philippines must register with the BIR, get a TIN, and pay and file taxes.

For taxation purposes, alien or foreign taxpayers in the Philippines are classified into two groups:

• Resident aliens – Non-Filipino citizens with permanent residence status in the Philippines
• Nonresident aliens – Non-Filipino citizens who are not Philippine residents but have stayed in the country for over 180 days during any calendar year, including expats and foreign entrepreneurs

e. One-time taxpayers

You should secure a TIN and register as a one-time taxpayer if you’ve never been issued a TIN before and you have to pay any of these taxes under One-Time Transactions (ONETT):

• Capital gains tax – For those selling real properties or shares of stocks for a profit
• Donor’s tax – For those giving gifts and/or donations worth over Php 250,000
• Estate tax – For legal heirs/beneficiaries of a deceased person
• Final tax on winnings – For winners of lotto, sweepstakes, or any prize exceeding Php 10,000
• Motor vehicle user’s charge – For those registering their car with the Land Transportation Office (LTO)

Related: What are the different types of taxes in the Philippines?

f. Non-taxpayers/Persons registering under EO 98

Minors, students, housewives, retirees, and other unemployed people, as well as OFWs, still need to apply for a TIN, even if they’re exempted from paying the income tax.

Under Executive Order (EO) 98, all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) must include the TIN in all forms, licenses, permits, clearances, and other official documents.

A TIN enables non-taxpayers in the Philippines to transact with government offices (such as the NBI and LTO), banks, stock brokerage firms, and other entities requiring a TIN.

g. Estates and trusts

For estate tax payment purposes, the BIR requires and issues a TIN for the estate of a deceased person or a trust under an irrevocable trust agreement. The TIN for an estate or trust differs from the deceased person’s or trustee’s TIN.

In legal terms, an estate comprises real properties, cash, investments, and insurance that comprise a person’s net worth. These assets are taxed upon the owner’s death before being transferred to the name of the deceased’s legal heirs.

Meanwhile, a trust is a legal arrangement in which a trustor gives a trustee the right to hold his/her assets for a third party, such as a beneficiary.

2. Corporate taxpayers

The BIR requires the following types of entities to register as corporate taxpayers and obtain a business TIN:

• Domestic corporations – Philippine-based corporations are taxed on income from sources within and outside the country.
• Foreign corporations – Resident and non-resident foreign corporations are taxed on their income from sources within the Philippines only, whether they operate their business in the country or not.
• Partnerships
• Cooperatives
• Non-stock, non-profit organizations
• Associations (such as homeowners associations and labor unions) – Whether taxable or non-taxable
• National government agencies
• Government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs)
• LGUs

Why Should You Get a TIN?

The TIN is not just for BIR transactions like tax filing and payment. As proof of being a taxpayer, your TIN is required when transacting with different government offices, banks, and private offices.

Here are some transactions or instances when you’re required to provide your TIN:

• Opening a savings account, checking account, or any bank account
• Credit card or loan application
• Application for voter registration with the Comelec
• Completing pre-employment requirements (for newly hired employees)
• Vehicle registration with the LTO
• Purchase of a vehicle, land, house, or condo in the Philippines
• Obtaining work visas and employment permits (for foreigners who intend to work in the Philippines)

How To Get a TIN Number in the Philippines: 2 Ways

Taxpayers can secure a TIN through walk-in registration at their assigned revenue district office (RDO) or online registration via the BIR eRegistration website.

Processing the TIN of walk-in applicants takes around 30 minutes to an hour. But it could take much longer, depending on the volume of people transacting during the day.

The online registration process is much shorter, at less than 5 minutes. However, the BIR’s online service is available only to registered employers securing TINs for their employees. Most taxpayer types have to register manually using appropriate BIR tax forms.

1. How to Get a TIN Using BIR Tax Forms (Walk-in Registration)

a. TIN Application Using BIR Form 1901 (For Self-Employed, Mixed-Income Individuals, Non-Resident Alien Engaged in Trade/Business, Estate, and Trust)

The BIR Form 1901 is filed by self-employed individuals, whether single proprietors or professionals, to register with BIR as taxpayers and obtain their TIN¹.

The same form is used for BIR registration by mixed-income individuals or employees running a business on the side, those who want to register their estates and trusts, and non-resident aliens engaged in trade/business.

b. TIN Application Using BIR Form 1902 (For Local and Alien Employees Earning Purely Compensation Income).

The BIR Form 1902 is the tax form used to register new employees (Filipino or foreigner) who will earn purely from their salary/compensation income in the Philippines.

Most employers take care of their employees’ BIR registration. If this is the case, all you need to do is to fill out the form and submit the required documents. Once registered, you’ll be issued your permanent TIN.

c. TIN Application Using BIR Form 1903 (For Corporations, Partnerships, Including GAIs, LGUs, Cooperatives, and Associations).

If you’re a corporate taxpayer, you can register with BIR and get your TIN using the BIR Form 1903. This tax form caters to corporations, partnerships, non-profit organizations, cooperatives, associations, national government agencies, GOCCs, and LGUs.

d. TIN Application Using BIR Form 1904 (For One-Time Taxpayer and Person Registering Under E.O. 98).

The BIR Form 1904 is designed for those who don’t fall under the regular groups of taxpayers discussed previously. These include one-time taxpayers who were not issued a TIN previously but needed one to pay donor’s tax, estate tax, capital gains tax, and other types of one-time taxes.

This tax form is also used to register applicants not paying income taxes but under E.O. 98, like unemployed Filipinos, OFWs, etc. These applicants want to get their TIN to transact with any government office.

2. How to Get a TIN Using the BIR eReg Website (Online Registration)

Currently, only employers or corporate taxpayers registered with the BIR can use the BIR’s eRegistration (eReg) system to secure the TINs of their new employees (without existing TIN).

In the past, the online registration service was also accessible to other taxpayer types, such as self-employed and applicants under EO 98. The BIR might restore that functionality in the future. But for now, BIR registration for these people has to be done manually at their assigned RDO.

Again, employers can issue TIN  for their employees through the BIR eReg system. However, they must create an account in the online system first. 

Part I: How to Create a BIR eReg Account

Here are the steps to create a BIR eReg system account²:

1. Visit the BIR eRegistration website.
2. Click Create Employer User Account on the User Menu on the left part of the page.
3. Read the User Agreement. Click the Agree button.
4. Enter your email address, complete name, employer TIN, and employer branch code (the last three digits of your employer TIN—not the RDO code). See the image above for more information.
5. Type the captcha code and hit Submit. Upon clicking the Submit button, you will be directed to the eReg Login page, wherein you can see a message confirming your account has been successfully created.
6. Wait for an email notification from BIR containing your account username. Once you have received your username, you can get TINs for your employees (see next section).

Part II: How to Get TIN for Employees Through the BIR eReg System

After setting up their BIR eReg accounts, employers can now log in to issue their employees’ Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs). Here’s how³:

1. Visit the BIR eRegistration website.
2. Input your registered username (i.e., the one sent to you via email) and your email address. If the username and email address match, you will receive an email containing your password. Check your spam folder if you cannot see the email in your inbox.
3. Fill out the Basic Taxpayer Data Form with the required information, which includes: The name of the employee, birthdate, name extension, email address, civil status, and gender. Important Note: Taxpayers with no middle name must get  their TINs manually at the concerned Revenue District Office (RDO)

How To Get a TIN Number if You’re Unemployed

Yes, you read that right—you can secure a Tax Identification Number (TIN) even if you’re not employed. 

Doing so shouldn’t be a problem, as long as you have no existing TIN, have a valid purpose, and submit all the requirements.

Students, stay-at-home parents, and anyone unemployed in the Philippines can apply for this number under Executive Order (EO) 98. Before you file your TIN application with the BIR, it’s essential to understand EO 98 and its role in your right to be issued a TIN.

What is EO 98?

EO 98⁴ is a directive signed by then-President Joseph Estrada that requires all government agencies and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) to use the TIN in all forms, permits, licenses, and other documents they issue to people transacting with their office.

This EO makes it compulsory for everyone—employed or not—to get a TIN for transactions with government offices and private institutions, such as the following:

• Passport/NBI Clearance/Driver’s License application
• Opening a bank account
• Voter’s registration application
• Scholarship application 

As such, having a TIN enables you to get a valid ID, open a bank account for saving or investing, get a scholarship, and more.

How to apply for a TIN if you’re unemployed: 4 steps

1. Prepare the BIR requirements for TIN registration

Step ahead of your TIN application by ensuring you’ve gathered all the necessary documents.

TIN application requirements for the unemployed.

• Two copies of accomplished BIR Form 1904
• Birth Certificate, Community Tax Certificate (cedula), passport, driver’s license, or any valid government-issued ID showing the applicant’s full name, address, and birthdate
• For married applicants: Marriage certificate

Additional supporting documents

The BIR may require additional documents depending on your TIN registration purpose. For example, if you need a TIN to open a bank account, you’ll be asked to submit a bank certificate (indicating “for TIN application only”).

It gets tricky because not all banks issue a certification for TIN registration. So if you’re enrolling a new account with a certain bank, ask immediately if they can give you a bank certificate for the TIN application. Otherwise, try looking for other banks that do.

2. Download, print, and fill out BIR Form 1904

How to fill out BIR Form 1904 for unemployed applicants

Here are pointers to guide you through accomplishing the TIN application form correctly.

• Use a pen with black ink and write down your information in CAPITAL LETTERS. 
• Date of Registration: Enter the date you’ll file your TIN application with the BIR.
• RDO Code: Indicate your city or town’s three-digit Revenue District Office (RDO) code. Check your RDO code here. 
• Taxpayer Type: Mark with an “X” the box that says “E.O. 98 (Filipino Citizen).” If you’re unemployed but earning passive income (e.g., investment income, bank deposit interest, royalty income, etc.), mark the “Passive Income Earner Only” box.
• Write down your Country of Residence (Philippines), complete name (Taxpayer’s Name – If Individual field), and complete address (Local/Registered Address field).
• Fill out the form with the other required details: birthdate, landline or mobile number, mother’s maiden name, father’s name, gender, and email address.
• Part II – Transaction Details: Select your purpose for applying for a TIN. For unemployed Filipinos, the applicable choice is either “Dealings with Banks” (i.e., for opening a savings/checking or investment account) or “Dealings with Government Agencies” (i.e., transactions with the LTO, NBI, DFA, etc.).
• Declaration: Write your name and put your signature over it. 
• For other fields not mentioned above (which don’t apply to you), you can leave them blank.
• Fill out a second copy of the BIR Form 1904.

3. Go to the BIR RDO and submit the requirements

Bring all the TIN application requirements to the RDO of your city or municipality.

Tell the BIR officer that you’re applying for TIN under EO 98. Also, explain why you need a TIN. You’ll be allowed to proceed with your TIN application only if your purpose is valid (i.e., a transaction with any government office or a bank).

When you apply for TIN at the BIR RDO, these three scenarios could happen. Here’s what you can do should you encounter one:

• You’ll be told you’re not eligible for a TIN because you’re unemployed. – Politely remind them about your right to secure a TIN under EO 98. 
• You’ll be asked to submit additional documents before you’re issued a TIN. – Again, being prepared will save you from the hassle of going back and forth at the RDO for your TIN application. Be sure to bring applicable supporting documents when applying for a TIN.
• You’ll be given a different BIR form for TIN registration. – If you’re handed the BIR Form 1901 or 1902, remind them you’re registering under EO 98. This is why it’s essential to come prepared with your accomplished BIR Form 1904 because this is the correct TIN application form for unemployed applicants.

However, if you’re applying for TIN as part of the pre-employment requirements for your new job, you should be filing the BIR Form 1902 instead. 

4. Wait for your TIN

After submitting the requirements, the BIR personnel will process your TIN application. 

Once your TIN is generated, you’ll be issued your copy of the BIR Form 1904 with a “Received” stamp. Keep your receiving copy, which now has your Tax Identification Number written.

The BIR officer will tell you when you can return to the RDO to claim your TIN ID.

Tips and Warnings

1. Don’t register for multiple TINs

Have you ever been issued a TIN? No need to get a new TIN, even if you’re changing a job, starting a business as a single proprietor, or transitioning from employment to full-time freelancing. You can only update your registration information like your RDO in these cases.

If you lost or forgot your TIN, try these easy ways to recover your TIN.

Just don’t get a new TIN if you already got one. Multiple TINs are a criminal offense in the Philippines, with a penalty of PHP 1,000 per additional TIN obtained.

2. If your business is a corporation or a partnership, dissolving the business means canceling the TIN.

According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), if a taxpayer cancels his registration due to the closure of his/her business, the taxpayer will be investigated by the BIR office concerned to know the taxpayer’s liabilities. 

References

1. Application for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Retrieved 17 November 2021, from https://www.bir.gov.ph/index.php/registration-requirements/primary-registration/application-for-tin.html
2. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). (2020). How can employers create an account with the BIR eRegistration (eReg) System? [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1517566885075121&id=313721258793029
3. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). (2020). How can employers issue Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) for their employees via the BIR eReg System? [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1517619271736549&set=pcb.1518207111677765
4. Executive Order No. 98 (Directing All Government Agencies, Instrumentalities, Local Government Units, and Government-Owned and/or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) to Include the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) as Part of the Essential Requirements in All Applications for a Government Permit, License, Clearance, Official Paper or Document) (1999). Manila.