Support for reforms initiated by the Department of Finance at the Bureau of Internal Revenue is gaining momentum, with leading business groups hailing the measures as a confidence boost for investors and a reset for tax administration.
In a December 30 statement, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. said tighter controls to curb the misuse of Letters of Authority and related audit tools mark a decisive step toward stronger governance. The reforms, it said, echo long-standing calls from the business sector for transparency, predictability, and equal application of the law.
“Arbitrary or overreaching enforcement actions erode the very confidence upon which growth is built,” FFCCCII president Victor Lim said. “When investor morale is bolstered by fair play and clear rules, businesses are empowered to expand.”
The group has consistently pushed for a balanced framework where tax enforcement and taxpayer protection reinforce each other. It noted that audits exceeding their scope or validity, overlapping investigations, and the absence of digital traceability in audit authorities have historically created uncertainty that weakens compliance and deters investment. The DOF-led reforms, FFCCCII said, directly confront these risks by strengthening due process and accountability.
Separately, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the government’s move, calling it timely and necessary to restore trust in tax administration. PCCI president Enunina Mangio said decisive action against the alleged abuse of audit powers would benefit both individual and corporate taxpayers.
“Tax enforcement must be firm, but it must also be fair,” Mangio said, warning that misuse of audit instruments undermines voluntary compliance.
PCCI underscored that properly issued, time-bound, and digitally tracked audit authorities are essential to protecting due process, preventing abuse, and maintaining a level playing field—critical ingredients for sustained investment and growth.
