Today’s piece is a reflection on the fuel marking program (FMP), a topic that is the current buzz in business circles and one close to my heart as a chemist by education and a nosy journalist by profession. That’s right, Virginia, I’m joining the fray. I will try to go deep into the...
The government has exempted all United States-funded (US) law enforcement and anti-narcotics initiatives from domestic taxes, currency controls, and banking fees to ensure that financial assistance from Washington is deployed entirely to local operational programs rather than contributing to...
Transfers of legal title between nominee-trustees are exempt from capital gains tax (CGT), documentary stamp tax (DST), and donor’s tax, provided the corporation retains beneficial ownership and the transaction involves only a change in legal title, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said. This...
While the Philippine tax effort—tax collections as a share of gross domestic product (GDP)—stood below the Asia-Pacific (APAC) average, the country outpaced most of its Southeast Asian peers. According to the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Revenue...
Apart from ongoing preparations for the possible implementation of the global top-up tax, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) continues to prepare for other emerging tax measures, including a new mining royalty regime, real property valuation reforms, and cross-border duties. These preparations...
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) secured clearance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file 44 criminal tax evasion cases against three former public works officials over an alleged ₱1.68 billion in unpaid liabilities. In a statement, the BIR reported that the DOJ found probable cause to...
The government expanded its primary tax advisory council to include major foreign business chambers, aiming to smooth friction between corporations and state auditors while accelerating digital compliance reforms. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) renewed its multi-sectoral consultative...
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has dismantled its specialized value-added tax (VAT) audit units, executing a major structural overhaul designed to boost collections and eliminate overlapping enforcement that previously fueled allegations of corruption. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R....
The Philippines’ more-than-three-decade-old devolution program remains incomplete, with local government units (LGUs) and national agencies continuing to share responsibilities for many basic services despite the 1991 Local Government Code (LGC), according to state-run policy think tank...
Authorities intercepted 23 containers of smuggled cigarettes valued at ₱1.7 billion at a private wharf in Manila, marking one of the largest illicit tobacco seizures this year as the government intensifies its crackdown on tax evasion and border fraud. The joint enforcement operation, conducted...
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched a one-time tax abatement program aimed at giving micro-businesses and inactive filers a chance to settle outstanding liabilities and clean up their financial records. Under Revenue Regulations No. 4-2026, the tax bureau established guidelines for the...
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has urged the national government to consider non ‑ tax revenue options to achieve long-term fiscal stability even as state economic managers continue to study ways to strengthen the country’s revenue generation policies. Escudero said the government should...
