In a shift from stern audits to street-level support, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) fanned out across the country on February 23 for a Nationwide Simultaneous Friendly Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD), putting dialogue ahead of discipline.
The initiative, staged in observance of Tax Awareness Month under Proclamation No. 486, series of 2024, deployed revenue personnel across all 22 Revenue Regions to conduct on-site visits to business communities. Branded as “CHAT” — Counsel, Help, Assist Taxpayers — the campaign underscored the Bureau’s pivot toward taxpayer education and voluntary compliance.
Leading from the front, BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza personally visited 168 Mall in Binondo, Manila, engaging business owners in face-to-face conversations alongside regional and district officials.
“Ang CHAT ay para makausap, magabayan, at matulungan ang mga nagnenegosyo,” Mendoza said, stressing that the approach is meant to guide—not intimidate —entrepreneurs, particularly micro and small enterprises.
While much of tax administration has migrated online, the BIR said periodic ground engagements remain critical. Field visits allow revenue officers to understand operational realities beyond spreadsheets and sales reports, helping refine compliance guidance and service delivery.
The nationwide rollout began with simultaneous regional deployments, followed by a Metro Manila cluster convergence at the RR 8B – South NCR Command Center. A synchronized LED and Zoom broadcast linked offices nationwide, with selected regions presenting highlights of their engagement and compliance assistance efforts.
The Friendly TCVD forms part of the Bureau’s intensified information and enforcement push for Tax Awareness Month, aligned with its reform priorities under the DARES agenda. Mendoza framed the campaign as a balancing act: making compliance easier for honest taxpayers while tightening the net on violators.
During the visits, BIR teams provided guidance on registration, receipt issuance, record-keeping, and filing obligations — turning routine inspections into teachable moments.
The BIR initiative underscores the message that compliance is shared responsibility, and the Bureau intends to be both watchdog and partner in protecting every peso of public revenue.
