The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has launched its Mobile Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Verifier app that lets taxpayers validate their TINs by simply typing relevant information on their smartphones.
BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa said the mobile application is available on both the App Store for those with IOS-enabled smartphones, and on Google Play for Android smartphone users.
“The BIR Mobile TIN Verifier App is a service channel for taxpayers to send online TIN validation and TIN Inquiry using their mobile phones with real-time response from the concerned BIR Office,” said Guballa in his report to Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during a recent Department of Finance (DOF) Executive Committee (Execom) meeting.
Guballa said the BIR launched the mobile app last January as part of the bureau’s digital transformation program.
Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 13-2021 was issued last month by BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay to inform all internal revenue officers and employees of the availability of the TIN Verifier app, and instructed them to encourage taxpayers to download the app and disseminate information about this new BIR-developed digital tool.
“The development of the mobile application is one of the Bureau’s efforts in its digital transformation by giving our taxpayers a convenient way and alternative in availing of the TIN validation service instead of going physically and queueing in the BIR district office,” Dulay said in RMC 13-2021.
He said the BIR will continue to accept walk-in validation and inquiries about TINs in the bureau’s district offices to serve taxpayers with no access to this mobile service.
Two years ago, the BIR warned the public against individuals selling unauthorized or fake TIN cards online.
It was able to apprehend several of these online sellers of fake TINs last year.
The new mobile TIN verifier app is expected to discourage the proliferation of such illegal activities as this digital tool requires the user to input relevant information before one can validate or inquire about a TIN.
The TIN Verifier requires the user to input his or her complete name, birthdate, address, civil status and spouse name, (if applicable) and take a selfie together with a valid government-issued ID before proceeding to use the application.
