On this day, February 27, 2025 Senator Win Gatchalian and Congressman Felimon Espares of COOP NATCCO Party List led the legislative inquiry on the issue of TIN Requirement (Application and Renewal of CTE) over DOF and BIR.
Philippine Cooperative Chamber Trustee Lily Silubrico (representing Holy Cross Savings and Credit Cooperative), Executive Director Edwin Bustillos, and other cooperative leaders testified before the said inquiry.
The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. firmly opposes the requirement for cooperatives to submit the TINs of individual members when applying for or renewing their CTE. This requirement, imposed by the BIR through various Revenue Memorandum Circulars, lacks a clear legal basis under RA 9520 and imposes an unnecessary administrative burden on cooperatives. The Coop Chamber argues that the BIR cannot amend existing laws through circulars, as affirmed by past Supreme Court rulings. Furthermore, requiring TINs may violate the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173) and delay the processing of tax exemptions, exposing cooperatives to unwarranted tax assessments.
Read: The position paper submitted by the PCCI on the the legislative inquiry on the issue of TIN Requirement.
In the end, Senator Win proposed to suspend the TIN Requirement and amendments to BIR issuances RMO 76-2010, RMc 124-2020 and RMC 158-2022.
