Philippine Tax Bureau Warns Taxpayers with Multiple TIN Number Violators Can Be Dened for Six Months

On May 23, local time, the Philippine Bureau of State Affairs (BIR) Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. announced that criminal charges would be filed against taxpayers with multiple Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs).

The official said that the taxpayer identification number plays a vital role in the tax system. It enables the tax bureau to effectively monitor and track taxpayers' compliance with their tax obligations.

To avoid other inconveniences such as criminal charges, the authorities urged individuals with multiple taxpayer identification numbers to apply to the tax district office where they are registered for the cancellation of the additional TIN number.

According to Article 275 of the Philippine Revenue Code, taxpayers should only have a taxpayer identification number, and violators can be fined 1000 pesos and imprisoned for six months.

In addition to potential criminal charges, individuals with multiple taxpayer identification numbers may experience difficulties in financial transactions, such as opening a bank account or applying for a loan.

In addition, the existence of multiple taxpayer identification numbers can lead to confusion when filing tax returns.

The Inland Revenue Department stressed the importance of complying with the regulations on taxpayer identification numbers and urged taxpayers to deal with any situation with multiple taxpayer identification numbers in a timely manner to avoid legal implications and simplify their financial affairs.