THE SECRET BEHIND '000'

Have you ever noticed how almost every Tax Identification Number (TIN) ends with “000”?

It’s not a random set of zeros—it’s what the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) calls the branch code.

A TIN has twelve digits. The first nine identify the taxpayer, while the last three digits tell the BIR which branch filed the tax return.

For instance, if ABC Food Corp. operates three branches, the head office might be 123-456-789-000, while its other branches would be 123-456-789-001 and 123-456-789-002. The “000” belongs to the headquarters—it’s the main TIN.

If you’re not running a business (say, you’re an individual employee or a property owner with no registered branches), your TIN will end in 000 too—because you only have one “branch.”

Now, for real estate transactions, even if a sole proprietor operates several outlets with different branch codes, the TIN used in contracts is still the headquarters’ code—the one ending in 000.

So, the next time you see someone write only nine digits, don’t worry. Omitting the “000” is perfectly fine—it’s just shorthand for the main office’s branch code.