REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 18-2012 issued on December 28, 2012 prescribes the
policies and guidelines in the processing of Authority to Print (ATP) Official Receipts (ORs),
Sales Invoices (SIs) and other Commercial Invoices (CIs) using the online ATP System and
provides for the additional requirements in the printing thereof.
All persons, whether private or government, who are engaged in business shall
secure/apply from the BIR an Authority to Print principal and supplementary receipts/invoices.
National Government Agencies, Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations and Local
Government Units engaged in proprietary functions shall apply for ATP in the printing of their
principal and supplementary receipts/invoices. For newly-registered taxpayers, the ATP shall be
secured simultaneously with the Certificate of Registration.
The taxpayer-applicant shall apply for an ATP and submit the required documents using
the online ATP System. However, in case of systems downtime, taxpayer shall apply for ATP
and submit the required documents at the Revenue District Office (RDO) or concerned Large
Taxpayers (LT) office having jurisdiction over the taxpayer’s Head Office (HO).
As a general rule, all applications for ATP of the HO and all its branches shall be done
online. In case of systems downtime, all applications for ATP shall be manually filed and the
corresponding ATP shall be manually issued through an alternative off-line ATP System by the
RDO or concerned LT office having jurisdiction over the taxpayer’s HO. All applications for
ATP processed during systems downtime shall be immediately uploaded by the concerned RDO
or LT office, upon availability of the online ATP System.
There shall be one application for ATP per establishment (HO or branch), which shall be
filed with the RDO/LT office concerned where the HO is registered. Each application shall be
issued a separate ATP. The principal and supplementary receipts/invoices of the HO and each of
the branches must have their own independent series of serial number. Each application as well
as the printed accounting document/s shall reflect the exact address of the branch, Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN) and the branch code attached to the TIN.
The TIN, branch code (if applicable) and address of the HO must be reflected in the
printed principal and supplementary receipts/invoices used in the business premises of the HO.
Likewise, the printed principal and supplementary receipts/invoices to be issued/used in the
branches (if applicable) must reflect the TIN, branch code and address of the branch/es.
The approved ATP shall be valid only upon full usage of the inclusive serial numbers of
principal and supplementary receipts/invoices reflected in such ATP or five (5) years from
issuance of the same, whichever comes first.
No ATP shall be granted for the printing of principal and supplementary receipts/invoices
unless the required information, which shall be prescribed in a separate revenue issuance, are
reflected therein. The replicate copy of the ATP issued shall be printed at the inside back portion
of the cardboard cover of each booklet/pad of principal and supplementary receipts/invoices
printed. Only BIR Accredited Printers shall have the exclusive authority to print principal and
supplementary receipts/invoices.
All unused/unissued principal and supplementary receipts/invoices printed prior to the
effectivity of these Regulations, shall be valid until June 30, 2013. A taxpayer with expiring ATP
for its invoices/receipts (principal and supplementary) shall apply for a new ATP not later than
sixty (60) days prior to actual expiry date. All unused/unissued principal/supplementary
receipts/invoices shall be surrendered to the RDO where the taxpayer is registered on or before
the 10th day after the validity period of the expired receipts/invoices for destruction. An
Inventory listing of the same shall also be submitted.