RELIEF in BIR Online Tools: How It Works
RELIEF — Reconciliation of Listings for Enforcement — is the BIR’s third-party information program that cross-references quarterly summary listings from VAT-registered taxpayers. In BIR Online Tools, the RELIEF module covers all three listing types VAT taxpayers may need to submit each quarter: Sales, Purchases, and Importations.
This guide is part of the App Guide series and orients you to the RELIEF hub before diving into each sub-tool’s own walkthrough.
Open RELIEF FREE →What does the RELIEF hub show? #
Opening RELIEF from the sidebar lands on a hub page explaining the program and its deadline, with a card for each of the three listing types below it. Every VAT-registered taxpayer submits the Summary List of Sales, Summary List of Purchases, and Summary List of Importations, as applicable to their transactions, for each taxable quarter.
When is RELIEF due? #
RELIEF listings are due on or before the 25th day of the month following the close of each taxable quarter — the same deadline shown directly on the hub page. A Q1 (Jan–Mar) listing is therefore due by April 25, Q2 by July 25, and so on.
What does each RELIEF sub-tool cover? #
| Sub-tool | What it lists | Key figures it computes |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | Quarterly Summary List of Sales to regular and casual buyers/customers | Net of VAT, output VAT, exempt, zero-rated totals |
| Purchases | Quarterly Summary List of Local Purchases and Input Tax from suppliers and service providers | Services, capital goods, other purchases, input VAT (creditable/non-creditable) |
| Importations | Quarterly Summary List of Importations | Dutiable value, charges, exempt, taxable goods, VAT payable |
Each sub-tool follows the same three-step pattern: download an Excel template pre-filled with example rows, upload your completed workbook, and let BIR Online Tools validate every row before converting it into a BIR-ready DAT file. Seller, buyer, or importer identity comes from your active company profile — set it up once and every RELIEF sub-tool reuses it.
Frequently asked questions #
What is RELIEF? #
RELIEF stands for Reconciliation of Listings for Enforcement, the BIR’s third-party information program that cross-references quarterly summary listings from VAT-registered taxpayers against what their counterparties report.
Who has to file RELIEF listings? #
All VAT-registered taxpayers must submit the Summary List of Sales, Summary List of Purchases, and Summary List of Importations, as applicable to their transactions, for each taxable quarter.
What is the RELIEF filing deadline? #
RELIEF listings are due on or before the 25th day of the month following the close of each taxable quarter, the same submission window BIR Online Tools’ RELIEF hub displays.
What’s the difference between RELIEF Sales, Purchases, and Importations? #
Sales covers the quarterly Summary List of Sales to regular and casual buyers including output tax; Purchases covers local purchases and input tax from suppliers; Importations covers dutiable value, landed cost, and VAT paid on imported goods.
Does BIR Online Tools validate RELIEF data before generating a DAT file? #
Yes. Each RELIEF sub-tool reads every row from your uploaded Excel file, runs validation, and shows every error before it will convert the data into a DAT file — nothing is generated from data with unresolved errors.
Summary #
RELIEF covers three quarterly VAT listings — Sales, Purchases, and Importations — all due by the 25th of the month after quarter-end, and BIR Online Tools handles each with the same download-template, upload, validate, and convert-to-DAT workflow. Start with whichever listing applies to your quarter: Sales, Purchases, or Importations — or see the App Guide hub for every other module.
Open RELIEF FREE →