- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is urging the taxpaying public not to patronize and obtain their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and/or TIN Card from online sellers.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement this afternoon, June 19, that the Bureau has recently discovered several “enterprising” individuals offering “BIR TIN ID assistance” in the social media and other online selling platforms.
“These offers of TIN ID assistance posted in online channels/selling platforms are not authorized by the BIR and are, therefore, considered illegal,” Lumagui said. “Please do not be deceived or misled by such offers.”
He said the BIR Client Support Service already held a dialogue with representatives of Shopee and Lazada to call their attention on such illegal activities and to request them to immediately remove all advertisements/postings offering TIN ID assistance.
Several entrapment operations and arrests of sellers of TIN ID assistance services were also made by the BIR regional and district offices since 2019…the offenders were apprehended and legal proceedings initiated to ensure that appropriate penalties were imposed on them.
“The arrests and filing of criminal cases highlight the seriousness of the BIR in addressing the proliferation of unauthorized TIN issuance and selling of TIN cards,” the Bureau stressed.
“TIN cards are not for sale, and are only issued or released by the BIR through authorized personnel. Do not get TIN or TIN cards from unauthorized BIR personnel, non-BIR personnel or through the social media because they are considered illegal, fraudulent and fake,” Lumagui said.
He added that the selling of TIN card and services not only poses serious legal implications but also undermines the integrity of the taxation system and the revenue-generation efforts of the BIR.
These illicit activities may lead to identity theft, tax fraud, and other unlawful activities that could harm those who avail of such services and the economy as a whole, he said.
“The BIR remains committed to protecting the integrity of the taxation system and ensuring compliance with tax regulations,” Lumagui said. “We urge the public to cooperate and report any seller of TIN or TIN ID via (02) 8538-3200, or at contact_us@bir.gov.ph.”/CGC
