BIR sees rise in beneficiaries of one-time tax abatement program

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday said it has seen an increase in micro taxpayers availing its One-Time Abatement Program.

In a news release, the BIR said beneficiaries of the program reached 5,210 beneficiaries with P353.75 million in taxes and penalties abated as of November 7, 2026.

In particular, the taxman said from October 24 to November 7 alone, beneficiaries increased by 1,281 or 32.6%, from 3,929 to 5,210.

Over the same two-week period, the BIR said the amount of tax abated rose by P86.96 million, from P266.79 million to P353.75 million.

Moreover, applications likewise increased from 17,101 to 22,397 during the same period.

Of the number, 19,962 had been approved as of November 7, compared with 15,050 two weeks earlier.

“We want to sustain this momentum and reach more qualified micro taxpayers who still have pending tax cases that can be resolved under the program,” said Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza.

The BIR chief also thanked the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) for supporting the program and helping disseminate information through their business networks.

“We thank PCCI and PHILEXPORT for helping bring the program to more businesses. Their networks can help more qualified micro taxpayers know that this relief is available. We are also encouraged by their support for our plan to extend the abatement to small taxpayers,” said Mendoza.

Under the program, qualified micro taxpayers with covered basic taxes and/or penalties totaling not more than P80,000 for a taxable year may apply for abatement upon payment of a P5,000 abatement fee, subject to the prescribed conditions.

The program covers delinquent accounts, preliminary or final assessments, whether disputed or not, and open stop-filer cases as of December 31, 2025, including cases involving taxpayers who have ceased business operations. —VAL, GMA News