Philippines · BIR TIN
Philippines TIN Checker
Check that a Philippine Taxpayer Identification Number issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is correctly structured, including its branch code.
What is a TIN in the Philippines?
A Philippine TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is the 9-digit number the Bureau of Internal Revenue assigns to every registered taxpayer, followed for businesses by a branch code — for example 123-456-789-00000 for a head office. Each taxpayer may hold only one TIN, and it also serves as the VAT registration number.
Philippine TIN format
Nine digits, written in groups of three, plus a branch code that is all zeros for the head office.
TIN
(00000 = head office)
Format example only: 123-456-789-00000. Hyphens are optional.
- 9-digit TIN: All numeric, in force since 1991. It replaced the older Taxpayer Account Number (TAN) and separate VAT and withholding agent numbers.
- Branch code: BIR’s ORUS uses 5 digits (00000, 00001 …). Older BIR documents show 3 or 4 digits, so 12-, 13- and 14-digit forms are all valid ways to write a TIN with its branch.
- No published check digit: The BIR does not publish a check-digit algorithm, so offline checks can only confirm length and digits — registration can only be confirmed through BIR channels.
- Legacy suffixes: Old receipts may show V or NV after the TIN (VAT / non-VAT). Strip it, and any PH prefix an ERP adds, before checking.
How to check a Philippine TIN
- 1 Get the TIN and branch code from the supplier’s invoice or Certificate of Registration (BIR Form 2303), or from the employee’s TIN card or Digital TIN ID.
- 2 Enter it above, with or without hyphens, to confirm it is correctly structured.
- 3 Keep the Certificate of Registration or TIN ID with your records — the TIN on your invoices must match it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a TIN online in the Philippines?
Enter it in the checker on this page to confirm the TIN and branch code are correctly structured. Confirming that a TIN belongs to a specific person or business is done with the BIR — our Philippines TIN guide covers the background.
How many digits is a Philippine TIN?
The TIN itself is 9 digits. Businesses add a branch code after it: the BIR’s ORUS system now uses 5 digits (00000 for the head office, 00001 for the first branch), while older documents show 3 or 4 digits (000 or 0000). All of these mean the same head office.
What does branch code 00000 mean?
All zeros is the head office or an individual’s main registration. Each registered branch gets the next number (00001, 00002 …) under the same 9-digit TIN — a branch does not get a new TIN. The RDO code shown on a TIN card or Certificate of Registration identifies the tax office and is not part of the TIN.
Can I look up whose TIN this is?
No. The BIR has no public reverse lookup: its online tools only confirm whether a TIN matches a name you already have. Ask the supplier for its Certificate of Registration (BIR Form 2303), which shows its TIN and branch code.
Is there a separate VAT number in the Philippines?
No. A VAT-registered person is assigned only one TIN, so the TIN is also the VAT registration number. On VAT invoices for sales of PHP 1,000 or more to a VAT-registered buyer, the buyer’s name, address and TIN must also appear.
Is it illegal to have two TINs?
Yes. The Tax Code allows only one TIN per taxpayer. Securing another is punishable under Section 275 by a fine of not more than PHP 1,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. A duplicate TIN looks structurally valid, so only the BIR can detect it.
Last reviewed: , against official sources.
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