How to Get a TIN ID in the Philippines: Digital or Paper

A TIN ID gets asked for everywhere: banks, e-wallet upgrades, government transactions, clients who need to withhold tax. The good news is that it's free, and for most people it doesn't need a trip anywhere. You do need a TIN first, though, so let's start there.

Step one: make sure you have a TIN

The ID only proves a number you already have. How you get the TIN depends on who you are:

You are	How you get a TIN
Freelancer, seller or creator	Register as self-employed with Form 1901, online in ORUS or at the RDO, on or before your first sale
Employee	Your employer registers you within 10 days of your start date
No business or job yet	Apply under Executive Order No. 98, for example through the BIR's TRRA portal by email

If you think you already have one but can't remember it, Revie, the BIR's chatbot on bir.gov.ph, handles TIN Inquiry and TIN Validation. You can also call the BIR on (02) 8538-3200.

Option A: the Digital TIN ID (no queue)

1. Create an ORUS account at orus.bir.gov.ph. If you already have a TIN, use the permanent email on your BIR record.
2. Verify the account from the email link within 24 hours.
3. Log in and request the Digital TIN ID. The BIR's checklist lists it among the ORUS updates that are free of charge.
4. Save it to your phone and keep a copy somewhere safe.

The email catch is real. Only one email can enroll per taxpayer, it becomes your permanent record, and you can't change it online. If your BIR record has an email you no longer use, sort that out first (the TRRA portal accepts an email update on Application Sheet Form S1905).

Option B: the paper TIN card

Some people still want a physical card. The BIR's checklist says you'll need:

• BIR Form 1905, one original
• A recent 1x1 photo
• Any government-issued ID showing your name, address and birthdate, such as a PhilID or ePhilID, passport or driver's license (one photocopy)
• An affidavit of loss if you're replacing a lost card

Personal appearance is mandatory, so nobody can collect it for you. The first paper card is free. A replacement for a lost or damaged card costs 100 pesos.

Digital or paper: which should you get?

	Digital TIN ID	Paper TIN card
Where	ORUS, online	Your RDO, in person
Cost	Free (listed as free of charge)	First card free; 100 pesos to replace
Documents	Your ORUS login	Form 1905, 1x1 photo, government ID
Best for	Most people	Anyone who's asked for a physical card

Watch out for fake TIN cards

Social media is full of people offering to process a TIN ID for a fee. You don't need them. The BIR says fake TIN cards are confiscated and destroyed, and a fixer can also register you under the wrong tax type, which is a headache later. Do it yourself in ORUS; it's free.

If you've ended up with two TINs

It happens more than you'd think, usually when someone got a TIN as a student or employee and later registered again as a freelancer. You're only meant to have one. The BIR's checklist includes cancellation of a TIN due to identical or multiple TINs, filed on Form 1905 with 2 originals, so the duplicate can be cancelled and your records merged under one number. Sort it before you request a TIN ID, or you'll have an ID for the wrong record.

Using your TIN once you have it

• Give it to clients and platforms that ask for tax details, so payments are matched to you.
• Use it on every return you file, including quarterly ones.
• Keep your ORUS email current, because that's where BIR notices about your registration go.
• Don't post a photo of your TIN ID publicly. It's an identity document, and scammers collect them.

Which route if you're starting to earn online

Here's where people trip up. If you're getting a TIN because you've just landed your first freelance client or your first brand deal, don't take the shortcut of an E.O. 98 TIN and stop there. That route is for people with no business or employment yet. Once you're earning, the BIR expects you to register as self-employed on Form 1901, on or before your first sale. Doing it in that order means your TIN, your Certificate of Registration and your income all line up, and you won't have to update your registration a few months later.

If you already have an E.O. 98 or employee TIN, you keep the same number. You don't apply for a new one; you register your business under it.

My take

Get the Digital TIN ID in ORUS unless someone has specifically asked for paper. And if you're getting a TIN because you've started earning online, register as self-employed rather than under E.O. 98, so your income and your TIN match. If you're still looking for work, these online jobs for students in the Philippines and the wider list of online jobs are a good place to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is the TIN ID free?

Yes. The Digital TIN ID in ORUS is listed by the BIR as free of charge, and the first paper TIN card is free too. Only a replacement paper card costs 100 pesos.

Can I get a TIN ID online?

Yes. The Digital TIN ID is requested in ORUS at orus.bir.gov.ph once you have an account and a TIN on record.

How do I check my TIN number?

Use Revie, the BIR's chatbot on bir.gov.ph, which does TIN Inquiry and TIN Validation, or call the BIR on (02) 8538-3200.

What do I bring for a paper TIN card?

Form 1905, a recent 1x1 photo, a government ID showing your name, address and birthdate, and an affidavit of loss if it's a replacement. You must appear in person.

Should I pay someone to get my TIN ID?

No. It's free and you can do it yourself. The BIR confiscates fake TIN cards.