The Bureau of Internal Revenue said over the weekend it will roll out the smart tax identification number card before the end of the current administration’s term in June.
BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said the agency would put additional charges in the implementation of the updated TIN card, which would electronically store the personal data of the taxpayer.
“Yes, this year,” Henares said when asked if the rollout will happen before the end of President Aquino’s term.
“The PVC will have an additional cost which at the moment I do not know. The other thing is aside from the cost of the card, you have to pay for the delivery of that card to you. You don’t have to come to our office,” Henares added.
The TIN card is currently printed on a cardboard, which indicates the birth date, tax number issuance date and signature and photo of the taxpayer
Henares said the application for the updated TIN card would depend on the current biometrics of the taxpayers in other government agencies, such as state-run pension funds.
“What we are doing is if there is an available biometric already in other government agency, we will just pick it up from them,” she said.
In the case of applicants without existing biometrics, Henares said they must apply personally in their respected revenue district offices.
She said upon the successful processing of the digitize TIN card, it would be delivered in the address affixed by the taxpayer in his enrollment.
Henares said the new TIN card had other purposes, aside from minimizing fraud opportunities under the previous TIN card.
She earlier said the new card could be swiped in the magnetic readers of stores, which would show the taxpayers identification number in value-added tax receipts.
“That will happen in the future, we have to come out with the new TIN card first,” Henares said in a text message to The Standard.
The BIR, according to Henares, would prioritize the Large Taxpayers Service, which accounts for more than 60 percent of collections in the application for the new TIN card.
Henares denied allegations that the digitized TIN card was part of the planned national ID system.
“The updated TIN card] is a tax identification ID card that the BIR will issue. Well, if they want to make it a national ID, it is up to them. But as far as I am concerned, it has nothing to do with the national ID system,” Henares said.