AT the start of the year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) sent a clear message to the business sector: Tax audits have resumed, but under a refined framework.   With the issuance of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 8-2026, the BIR formally lifted the temporary suspension of audit and field operations. More significantly, Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 1-2026 introduced a revised audit structure to promote consistency, efficiency and procedural clarity.   The suspension of audits in late...

A STABLE and credible tax system is the backbone of any modern economy. For businesses, predictability, transparency and integrity in tax administration are not optional. In the Philippines, however, concerns over perceived irregularities in tax audits, particularly those involving the issuance and enforcement of letters of authority (LOAs), have reignited long-standing calls for deep reforms within the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).   These concerns have reached the halls of the Senate....

FOR a long time, accountants were known mainly for bookkeeping, auditing, and tax compliance — keeping records accurate, preparing...