The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has partnered with several industry and professional organizations to create a working group that will conduct regular dialogue and consultations on the drafting of revenue issuances.
The working group will serve as “a mechanism for consultations regarding issues on tax administration” to ensure tax policies and regulations are “comprehensive, lawful, and free from any form of prejudice.”
The BIR and the business groups formalized their cooperation by signing the Multi-Sectoral Group Partnership Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 8 August 8 in Quezon City.
The MOA creates a multi-sectoral working group whose primary objective is to “engage in a regular dialogue and consultations to guide and give advice on the drafting of revenue issuances, to facilitate and ensure compliance by the business sector.”
The partner business organizations include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry represented by president George Barcelon; Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. represented by president Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr.; Tax Management Association of the Philippines represented by president Suzette Celicious-Sy; Management Association of the Philippines represented by president Benedicta Du-Baladad; Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines represented by president Wilson Tan; Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants represented by president Erwin Vincent Alcala.
Also members of the working group are the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice represented by president Romualdo Murcia III; Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry represented by president Aphat Martinez, Jr.; Integrated Bar of the Philippines represented by executive director Antonio Pido; and the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) represented by primary delegate Mimi Lopez-Malvar.
The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean chambers and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc.
Aside from creating the multi-sectoral working group, the parties also agreed to advocate for comprehensive, relevant, and lawful policies, plans, and regulations for tax administration.
They will also share knowledge and expertise on best practices in taxation policies, regulations and strategies to improve the Philippine business tax system and make the country’s business environment supportive of business growth.
The MOA took effect immediately upon signing and will be in force for a period of one year.
Business and industry leaders and stakeholders have frequently called for increased dialogue and discussions with the BIR and greater participation in the crafting of policies and regulations to ensure tax issuances undergo scrutiny on their business impact and don’t unduly burden taxpayers.
