How to recover lost or forgotten TIN in the Philippines

The Tax Identification Number (TIN) is one of the most important numbers in our life of being an employee simply because it is what identifies our contributions to the government tax. Without it, people from BIR will have a hard time to look for records and credentials as regards to your tax contributions. Due to our lifestyles of being hardworking employees, we cannot be blamed if we somehow forget our TIN. In a previous article, we discussed how you can recover lost or damaged TIN Cards but in this article, we will guide you on what to do when you forget or lose your TIN if in case you do not have a TIN Card.

There are actually two (2) ways on how you can recover your lost or forgotten TIN. Having two different TINs is a criminal act that is punishable by law so if in any case you forget yours, do not apply for a new TIN. Before going on with the process on how you can recover your TIN, let us first know how important our Tax Identification Number is.

Read: How to get BIR Tax Identification Number (TIN)

Why is TIN so important?

Taken from its term, a TIN is as important as a document that discusses how good you are as an employee simply because it is used for tax purposes. Some banks require it while some banks don’t; the Land Transportation Office (LTO) requires a TIN especially if you are applying for a professional driver’s license. Establishing a business requires it because it is where they will get the tax out of. Simply put, almost everything important that revolves around your career and your profession requires TIN.

So how can I recover my lost or forgotten TIN?

As mentioned above, there are two (2) major ways on how you can recover your TIN:

Option 1: Through the Phone

The first option is actually the simplest and the less hassle among the two. You simply have to call BIR Contact Center by dialing (02) 981-8888. A BIR representative will attend to you and you will need to give your name and answer a few verification questions in order for you to get a hold of your TIN. This is done in order to ensure the confidentiality of the tax information because BIR has strict rules regarding privacy.

Option 2: Proceeding to a BIR Revenue District Office (RDO)

This second option however, is the more direct one because you will have to go to an RDO. You can search the internet to locate where the nearest RDO is from your location. Be prepared to present a valid ID and it can either be a government-issued ID or a company ID. To be extra sure, bring documents like your NSO-certified birth certificate, marriage contract, etc. for verification.

As of now, the BIR has not yet discussed online retrieval of TINs but if they do, it would be a great and pleasant treat for everyone; no more hassle of calling and no more hassle of finding and going to the nearest RDO.