The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is beginning to show early results from its five-pillar reform program, Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza told members of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) during a high-level dialogue held with Deloitte Philippines at Dusit Thani Manila.
Mendoza outlined the agency’s DARES framework—Digital and Data Transformation, Audit Reform and Accountability, Revenue Collection and Base Protection, Employee Empowerment and Welfare Promotion, and Service Excellence and Stakeholder Engagement—aimed at modernizing tax administration while improving compliance and taxpayer experience.
He cited initial 2026 gains, including the rollout of digital tools such as a system-assisted audit selection framework, LOA Verifier, Interactive Digital Tax Calendar, QR Code Verifier for Certificates of Registration, and the Revenue Monitoring and Intelligence Dashboard (ReMIND). These systems are designed to enhance transparency, reduce discretion, and streamline compliance.
“Excellent service worthy of your taxes is not just a campaign line—it is what the Bureau must now prove through actual work,” Mendoza said, pointing to the need for clearer rules and more reliable systems.
Business leaders welcomed the progress but flagged persistent issues during the open forum, including system slowdowns during peak filing periods, uneven audit practices across revenue offices, and uncertainty over e-invoicing readiness.
Concerns were also raised over tax predictability and the need to update frameworks for digital services and renewable energy.
The BIR said it is working to stabilize digital platforms, standardize audit procedures, simplify withholding tax rules, and broaden consultations with industry groups.
ECCP President Paulo Duarte emphasized that consistent implementation will be key, noting that investor confidence hinges less on incentives and more on how existing businesses are treated.
