Online sellers, digital earners now required to display registration badge

Online sellers and digital earners are now required to display their Registration Seal Badge on their platforms, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced on Tuesday.

In a news release, the BIR said the move is part of efforts to improve transparency and compliance in the digital economy.

In particular, the taxman issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 038-2026, requiring taxpayers engaged in online business activities to post the BIR-issued seal on their websites, e-commerce pages, or social media business accounts as proof of registration.

The BIR said the requirement covers a wide range of digital economic participants, including online sellers, freelancers, professionals, vloggers, influencers, and others earning income through digital platforms.

The taxman added that the seal will replace the need to publicly post the full Certificate of Registration (COR), addressing data privacy concerns while still allowing customers and regulators to verify a business’ legitimacy.

The BIR’s circular also sets guidelines on where the seal should be displayed, including sections such as “About Us,” “Business Permits,” or similar areas that are easily accessible to the public.

The Registration Seal Badge is issued free of charge and may be secured electronically through the BIR’s Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) or manually through the taxpayer’s Revenue District Office.

“Revenue base protection is not only about enforcement after violations happen. It is also about ensuring that businesses operating in the digital marketplace are properly registered, visible, and accountable from the start,” said BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza.

“The Registration Seal Badge helps protect legitimate online sellers who comply with the law, and it also protects online buyers by giving them a simple and reliable way to verify if the business they are dealing with is registered with the BIR,” said Mendoza. —VAL, GMA News