Skip to main content

Brunei Darussalam TIN number guide

Identification Number (NRIC)​

This pertains to individuals in Brunei Darussalam, including Brunei Darussalam Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Temporary Residents.

  • Brunei Darussalam Citizen: Recognizable by yellow-bordered cards featuring yellow printing, issued to individuals aged 12 years and above.
  • Permanent Resident: Identified by purple-bordered cards with purple printing, issued to individuals aged 12 years and above.
  • Temporary Resident: Distinguished by green-bordered cards with purple printing, issued to individuals holding any immigration passes of 3 months or more. This category applies to individuals aged 12 years and above.
NRIC
NRIC

Standard registration number​

  • PXXXXXXXX – Standard registration number issued to Sole-Proprietorships or Partnerships registered under the Brunei’s Business Names Act, Chapter 92 (BNA).

  • RCXXXXXXXX – Standard registration number issued to Private Limited Companies and Public Companies incorporated under the Brunei’s Companies Act, Chapter 39 (CA).

  • RFCXXXXXXXX – Standard registration number issued to Foreign Branch of companies registered under the Brunei’s Companies Act, Chapter 39

    All of these registration numbers are provided by the Registry of Companies and Business Names Division within the Ministry of Finance.

Format

  • Sole-proprietorships / Partnerships registered under BNA: PXXXXXXXX (9 characters)
  • Private Limited Companies / Public Companies registered under CA: RCXXXXXXXX (10 characters)
  • Foreign Branch registered under CA: RFCXXXXXXXX (11 characters)

Where:

  • P = Proprietorship / Partnership
  • RC = Registered Company
  • RFC = Registered Foreign Company

Frequently Asked Questions​

My bank's CRS form asks for a TIN — what do I put for Brunei residents and Brunei-registered companies?​

Brunei does not issue a dedicated Tax Identification Number for individuals or entities. For CRS self-certification purposes, Brunei citizens and permanent residents must provide their NRIC number as the functional TIN equivalent, while Brunei-registered companies must use their ROCBN registration number (P-, RC-, or RFC-prefix). These are formally recognised as TIN equivalents under Brunei's Income Tax Act (Chapter 35) CRS Regulations. [1] [2]

My company is incorporated in Brunei — is it really subject to corporate tax even though Brunei is known as a "no-tax" country?​

Yes. The "no-tax" reputation applies only to individuals. Incorporated companies (RC-prefix) and foreign branches (RFC-prefix) are subject to corporate income tax at 18.5% on Brunei-sourced chargeable income, administered by the Revenue Division of MOFE. Sole proprietorships and partnerships registered under the Business Names Act are not separately taxed because their income is treated as personal income of the owner. Two limited exemptions exist: newly incorporated companies are exempt on the first BND 100,000 of chargeable income for their first three consecutive years of assessment, and companies with gross turnover not exceeding BND 1 million are fully exempt. [3] [4]

What are the penalties if a Brunei company misses the 30 June corporate tax return deadline?​

Failure to file a complete income tax return — including audited financial statements and tax computation — by 30 June of the year of assessment is a criminal offence under the Income Tax Act (Chapter 35). On conviction, the company faces a fine of up to BND 10,000 and, in default of payment, imprisonment for up to 12 years. Separately, tax that remains unpaid 30 days after the Notice of Assessment attracts a 5% late-payment penalty, rising by 1% per month after 60 days, capped at a total of 12%. [5] [6]

Does Brunei withhold tax on payments sent to foreign (non-resident) companies — or is it truly zero?​

Brunei does levy withholding tax on certain payments to non-residents under the Income Tax Act. From 1 April 2017, the rates are: interest at 2.5% (reduced from 15%), royalties at 10%, and management fees at 10%. Technical service fees paid to non-residents are also subject to withholding at rates specified in MOFE Public Ruling PR-004-2017. No withholding applies to dividends paid by a Brunei company. Treaty rates may further reduce these rates for countries with which Brunei has a double tax agreement. [7] [8]

Can a foreign-owned company in Brunei get a corporate tax holiday, and how does Pioneer Status work?​

Yes. Under the Investment Incentives Act (Chapter 97), companies in qualifying activities may apply for Pioneer Status, which grants full corporate income tax exemption for 5 years (minimum fixed capital expenditure of BND 500,000) or 8 years (expenditure exceeding BND 2.5 million). Pioneer Service Companies engaged in activities such as engineering, IT services, or R&D can have their relief period extended to up to 11 years. The exemption covers corporate tax and import duties on qualifying machinery and raw materials, but does not extend to excise duty. Applications are processed through the Brunei Economic Development Board. [9] [10]

How Lookuptax can help you ?

Lookuptax VAT validation revolutionizes VAT number validation with its robust platform, empowering businesses to seamlessly verify VAT numbers across over 100 countries. Our cutting-edge technology ensures accurate and efficient validation, reducing errors and enhancing compliance.

Sign up on Lookuptax for taxid validation