How to get a copy of your filed income tax return from the BIR
Banks, embassies, and lenders ask for your ITR more often than you expect. Here is how to get a certified copy when you actually need one.
Sooner or later, someone will ask for your income tax return (ITR). A bank processing your loan application. An embassy reviewing your visa. A landlord screening tenants. Even a new employer verifying your salary history.
Most people scramble at this point because they never kept a copy. Here is what you need to know about getting one when you need it.
Why people need an ITR copy
The ITR is the government's record of the income you declared and the tax you paid or owed for a given year. Third parties trust it because it was submitted to the BIR, making it harder to fabricate than a simple income certificate.
Common situations where an ITR copy is required:
- Bank loans. Home loans, car loans, and personal loans almost always require an ITR to verify your capacity to pay.
- Visa applications. Many embassies ask for the past one to three years of ITRs as proof that you have financial ties to the Philippines.
- Business permits and contracts. Some government agencies and private clients want to see that you are a compliant taxpayer.
- Personal records. Keeping copies of your own filed returns makes it easier to spot discrepancies later.
The two kinds of ITR copies
Not all ITR copies are created equal.
The first kind is the copy you kept when you filed. If you filed online through the BIR's electronic systems, you should have a confirmation page or a downloadable PDF. This is your informal reference copy. Many institutions will accept it if it looks complete, but some will not.
The second kind is a certified true copy (CTC). This is the version stamped and certified by the BIR itself. A CTC carries the BIR's official seal and a signature from the Records Officer at your Revenue District Office (RDO). Banks, embassies, and courts typically require this version.
How to get a certified true copy from the BIR
Your starting point is the RDO where you were registered at the time you filed the return, not necessarily where you are registered today. BIR records stay with the RDO that received them.
The general process:
- Go to the Records Section of the correct RDO. Bring a valid government-issued ID and your TIN. You will fill out a request form for a CTC of your ITR.
- Specify the return. Tell the officer which year's ITR you need, and whether it is annual (Form 1700, 1701, or 1701A) or a quarterly return. The more detail you bring (tax type, taxable year, form number), the faster the staff can locate the record.
- Wait for processing. The BIR will retrieve the original from its archives and prepare a certified copy. Processing time varies by RDO and the age of the record.
- Claim and pay any fees. There is typically a documentary stamp fee involved. Check with your RDO or confirm via AskOnward for the current requirements.
What if you filed at a different RDO?
If you have transferred RDOs since the year you filed, the record stays at the old RDO. You may need to visit that office, or in some cases coordinate through your current RDO. Bring documentation of your transfer history if you have it.
If you are not sure which RDO you were registered with at the time, your old Form 2316 (the annual withholding certificate from your employer) should show the RDO code. A quick look at the BIR's online verification tools can also help.
What if you never filed?
A certified true copy only exists if a return was actually filed. If you were required to file but did not, there is no record to certify. That gap needs to be addressed before you can satisfy a third party's request.
Filing late is generally better than not filing at all. The BIR has provisions for filing overdue returns, though penalties may apply. Getting your filing history in order is the right first step.
Got questions about your ITR records, which form applies to your situation, or what the current process at your RDO looks like? Ask AskOnward. It draws on the official BIR rules and gives you a plain-language answer, no queue required.
This article is for general information and is not affiliated with the government. For official forms and the latest rules, see the Bureau of Internal Revenue at bir.gov.ph.