The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) suspended its requirement for online sellers, freelancers, and content creators to display QR-coded tax registration badges on Monday, October 26.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza halted enforcement just five days before the scheduled October 31 compliance deadline, confirming that the agency will not penalize merchants for failing to display the badge during this indefinite suspension.

Vendors who have already acquired the digital markers may still post them voluntarily, Mendoza noted, as authorities reconsider rules introduced in April to replace public Certificate of Registration (COR) postings.

The requirement was introduced in April as an alternative to displaying one’s full BIR Certificate of Registration (COR) online. The badge contains a QR code that customers can scan to verify whether an online seller or service provider is registered with the tax bureau.

But what was supposed to make registration verification easier has since sparked debate that QR codes could expose personal information. The rollout was also marred by technical difficulties and confusion over who needed to comply.

“We recognize that protecting personal information online presents different and more complex challenges than displaying a COR at a physical business establishment,” Mendoza said.

The BIR said it would work with the National Privacy Commission and consult affected taxpayers before deciding how to proceed.

Economist and former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno welcomed the suspension but questioned why the requirement was necessary in the first place. Magno pointed out that the BIR already maintains taxpayer registration records and has other mechanisms for monitoring transactions.

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