How To Register As A Taxpaying Freelancer And Get A BIR Receipt

      So you’re a freelance artist/writer who wants to pay taxes and get a BIR receipt. The first step you should take is go to your Revenue District Office (RDO), this is the BIR office that issued you your TIN. But you still don’t have TIN? Then, go to the RDO that has jurisdiction over your residence and apply for one ( I don’t think there are documents needed here, but just in case, bring a valid ID and some cash). Click HERE for a list of Revenue District Offices.

      Once inside your RDO (this is assuming you already have TIN),  go to the counter for NEW REGISTRATION (tell the guard you’ll be registering as a new taxpayer so he could point you the right window). Tell the NEW REGISTRATION officer in the window that you want to register as a FREELANCER (Professional), tell him you’re a writer or an artist, and he’ll then give you a list of documents to procure (it will most likely include a barangay certificate, a birth certificate (if you’re single) or a marriage certificate (if you’re married). You only need to submit photocopies of these documents. The officer in my RDO told me to get a certification from the company where I submit work as a freelancer  but I just told him that the said company doesn’t issue such document, which is less bother.

      Get all the documents in the list and go back to that officer and I can assure you that he will guide you through the process of registration. Tell him that you want to avail of the 8% Tax Rate (provided in the TRAIN Law) which will not require you to pay a monthly percentage tax, just the quarterly and the annual, of course. This tax rate (8%) is much easier to handle, the officer told me. No need for an accountant to settle your tax obligations.

      You will then be required to fill up Form 0605 (this will cost you 500 pesos) and then Form 1901 (this is free). Don’t be shy to approach your officer if you have any questions (on how to fill up the forms or the number of forms to fill up or how to proceed through the process). Remember, you are paying his salary. Okay, not yet, you’re still not registered. But you’ll be helping pay his salary soon. After you submit these forms, you will be required to buy a ledger/s or a journal/s and attend a seminar (within a week) which will be held in that RDO, and then, you will be handed your crisp Certificate of Registration (COR) the same day of the seminar or the next day or depending on how alert your officers are. Then, you’d be asked to deal with a printing company to have your receipt printed (this will take a few days and will cost you around one thousand or two thousand pesos, depending on the type of your receipt). Paying taxes now is mostly online (of course, you have to make a trip to the bank) so it'll just be a breeze. 

      There, give yourself a pat on the back, you're a taxpayer now, take pride in being of help (no matter how microscopic) in building this nation.