Bureau of Internal Revenue

Arcita 12:54 PM, Feb 28, 2023

February 28, 2023

Dear Ms. De Salit:

I refer to my letter of Feb 28, 2023 07:36:05 AM about your request under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, request for a Certificate of Tax Withheld (BIR Form 2316) from Taxable Years 2015 to 2020.

In reply, please be informed that your request for a copy of your BIR Form 2316 for Taxable Years 2015 to 2018 cannot be granted by the Revenue District Office (RDO) since the aforesaid BIR Withholding Tax Certificates were issued in 2015 to 2018 and records of the RDO on those periods are already unavailable since we follow strictly the four (4) year retention period based on existing revenue issuances of the BIR (Revenue Memorandum Circular 73-2008).

Hence, you may ask your former employer/s for the copy/ies of your Certificate of Compensation Payment/ Tax Withheld (BIR Form 2316) because all taxpayers are required to preserve their accounting records for the period of 10 years in accordance with the Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 29-2019.

On your other request, for a copy of your BIR Form 2316 for Taxable Years 2019 to 2020, kindly provide us the following information:

1. Complete Name of your Employer/s;
2. TIN of your Employer/s; 
3. Employer/s complete business address.

email the requested information at sherry.ann.arcita@bir.gov.ph and indicate in the subject email ticket number #BIR-698313253390, to respond.

During the period of us awaiting your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before May 23, 2023 04:40:54 AM, your request will be closed.

We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
Public Information and Education Division