Who needs a TIN in Philippines, how to register with Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), what the number looks like, how to find or check one, and where it goes on your invoices.
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Updated for 2026
Last reviewed September 2026
What the TIN is
The TIN is the number Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) assigns to a taxpayer in Philippines. It follows you across every tax you deal with: VAT, income tax and withholding. Businesses that pay you will ask for it before they release payment, because they report their suppliers to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) by this number.
TIN: 9 digits plus a 3- to 5-digit branch code (000-000-000-000).
Who needs one
Every employee, self-employed person and business; one TIN per person for life.
How to register, step by step
Register through ORUS (BIR Online Registration and Update System) or at your Revenue District Office; employees are usually registered by their first employer.
Self-employed: file BIR Form 1901 with your DTI business name registration and ID; corporations file Form 1903 after SEC registration.
Collect the Certificate of Registration (Form 2303). The annual registration fee was abolished in 2024 under the Ease of Paying Taxes Act.
Have invoices printed by a BIR-accredited printer with an Authority to Print, or use a registered computerised accounting system.
How to find or check a TIN
Your own number is on the registration certificate and on every letter or notice from Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Most authorities now offer an online lookup to confirm a supplier's number and registered name before you pay them; use it for any new supplier.
Where it goes on your paperwork
In the invoice header next to your business name, and in the client block when the client is a registered business. Quotations and purchase orders carry it too, so the client's accounts team can match documents. The Philippines invoice generator has a TIN field in both blocks.
Questions people ask
Does it cost anything to get a TIN?
Registration with Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is normally free. Agents charge for filling in the same form; pay one only if you want the time saved.
Can I invoice without a TIN?
You can write the document, but many clients will not pay an invoice that has no TIN, and you cannot charge VAT without being registered. Register first; it is usually quick.
Is the TIN the same as VAT registration?
Not necessarily. The TIN identifies you as a taxpayer; VAT registration is a separate status you take on when turnover passes the threshold or you opt in. Some countries use one number for both, others issue a separate VAT number.
How long does registration take?
Online registrations are often instant or take a few days; applications that need a visit or document checks take longer. Start before you need to send your first invoice.
Written from published tax-authority guidance and reviewed on 2026-09-03. Everything here is indicative rather than a ruling on your circumstances, and rules change. Confirm anything you rely on with Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before acting on it, and tell us if you find something out of date so we can correct it.
This guide explains the rules in general terms and is not tax advice for your circumstances. Confirm your position with a qualified adviser or with Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
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Tools for Philippines
Invoices, quotations, purchase orders, credit notes and waybills in PHP, with VAT and the TIN on the document. Plus a VAT calculator and a salary tax calculator. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.