The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has suspended the mandatory display of the BIR Registration Seal Badge until further notice. The move comes just days before the October 31, 2026 deadline for online sellers, service providers and content creators. The suspension is made under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 113-2026, GMA News reported on Monday, October 26, 2026.
According to the Inquirer, the BIR suspended the requirement following concerns over data privacy.
What changed
- Badge display is no longer mandatory for now. The required display of the BIR Registration Seal Badge is suspended until further notice (GMA News).
- The October 31, 2026 deadline is off for now. That deadline, set under RMC No. 99-2026, required online sellers, service providers and content creators to display the badge on their websites, e-commerce or marketplace pages, social media pages and other digital platforms (Inquirer).
- No penalties for not displaying the badge. No penalties will be imposed solely for failure to display the seal badge during the suspension period (GMA News).
- You can keep your badge up. Taxpayers who already obtained the seal badge may continue to display it on their online platforms at their discretion (GMA News).
RMC No. 113-2026 is dated October 26, 2026 and signed by BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza. It suspends the mandatory display prescribed under RMC No. 38-2026, as supplemented by RMC Nos. 64-2026 and 99-2026, “until further notice,” according to a copy of the circular published by Gadget Pilipinas. The circular does not say how long the suspension will last.
Who is affected
The badge rule covers taxpayers who earn through online and digital platforms. Under RMC No. 38-2026, this includes online sellers, freelancers, professionals, vloggers, influencers and others earning income through digital platforms (GMA News). If you are one of them, the suspension means you will not be penalized just because you have not posted the badge.
What is the BIR Registration Seal Badge?
The BIR introduced the Registration Seal Badge through RMC No. 38-2026 as proof of BIR registration for online businesses. It replaced the earlier requirement to post the full Certificate of Registration (COR) or electronic COR (eCOR) on websites, social media business pages and other digital platforms. Customers and clients can scan the badge to check if a seller or service provider is registered with the BIR (The Philippine Star).
The badge is issued free of charge. It can be secured online through the BIR’s Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) or at your Revenue District Office (RDO) (GMA News). As of October 14, 2026, more than 52,700 CORs with registration seal badges had been secured, the BIR said.
Why the BIR suspended it
Online sellers and content creators raised concerns that the QR code on the badge could expose personal information, including their full legal names. Senators Bam Aquino and Pia Cayetano urged the BIR to address these concerns, with Aquino asking the bureau to temporarily suspend the requirement. Cayetano said she had raised the issue with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) (The Manila Times).
Before the suspension, Commissioner Mendoza acknowledged the privacy risks and said the BIR was coordinating with the NPC to set up safeguards for the verification system “without compromising taxpayer privacy or personal safety” (The Manila Times).
What to do now
- If you have not secured or posted the badge yet: you do not need to rush before October 31. No penalties will be imposed solely for not displaying it while the suspension is in effect.
- If you already display the badge: you may leave it up, or decide for yourself whether to keep it. Display is now at your discretion.
- Watch for BIR updates. The suspension is “until further notice.” Follow the BIR’s official website (bir.gov.ph) and official social media pages for any new circular on the badge.
- Keep your other BIR obligations. The suspension covers the mandatory display of the badge. It does not say that registration and other tax obligations of online businesses are suspended.
FAQs
Is the October 31, 2026 deadline for the BIR seal badge still in effect?
No. Under RMC No. 113-2026, the mandatory display of the badge is suspended until further notice, so the October 31 deadline does not apply for now.
Will I be fined if I do not post the badge?
Not for that reason alone. No penalties will be imposed solely for failure to display the seal badge during the suspension period.
I already posted my badge. Do I need to take it down?
No. Taxpayers who already have the badge may continue to display it on their online platforms at their discretion.
Has the BIR scrapped the seal badge for good?
The BIR has suspended the mandatory display “until further notice.” It has not said the badge is cancelled, and it has not given a date for when the requirement may return.
Why was the requirement suspended?
The Inquirer reported that the suspension followed concerns over data privacy. Online sellers and creators had warned that the badge’s QR code could reveal personal information such as full legal names.
Sources
- GMA News on X, October 26, 2026
- Inquirer on X, October 26, 2026
- Gadget Pilipinas: BIR Suspends Mandatory Display of Registration Seal Badge Until Further Notice
- GMA News: More than 52,700 registration seal badges secured by online sellers, others
- The Philippine Star: BIR issues over 52K registration seal badges
- The Manila Times: Senators seek BIR pause on registration badge
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