BIR visits 24,000 businesses on 1st day of nationwide tax compliance drive
As part of activities marking Tax Awareness Month, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) this week launched its Friendly Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD) with a nationwide effort that saw more than 24,000 business establishments visited on the first day alone.
The initiative, which runs from February 10 to 14, 2025, focuses on educating businesses on their tax obligations without imposing penalties.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said that “the BIR will conduct a tax education campaign, through a nationwide TCVD. The purpose of this TCVD is solely to educate businesses on their tax obligations. No penalties will be imposed.”
The most common compliance issues observed during the visits included businesses operating without proper registration, not keeping books of accounts on-site, failure to display their certificate of registration, and not converting official receipts into the required sales or service invoices under the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act.
Retail stores, restaurants, healthcare providers, automotive shops, and construction supply stores were among the most visited establishments.
During the visits, BIR officers explained compliance requirements, answered questions, and guided business owners on how to address their tax concerns.
Lumagui pointed out that BIR officials and personnel “are here to educate our taxpayers, not to penalize them.”
“Education leads to compliance. Improved services lead to compliance. Our revenuers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will be visiting businesses to explain the fundamentals of taxation to everyone.”
The friendly TCVD reflects the BIR’s commitment to foster a culture of voluntary compliance through education and direct engagement with taxpayers.
Through education and continuous guidance, the BIR is committed to helping taxpayers comply with ease and confidence. Aside from tax education, this friendly enforcement activity also provides revenuers with the opportunity to engage directly with business owners on how to make compliance easier. The data gathered from common violations also offer valuable insights into how tax regulations can be made clearer and more accessible to the public. This aligns with the government’s broader objective of improving the business environment, allowing MSMEs to thrive, and ultimately increasing tax collection through enhanced voluntary compliance.
Driven by enhanced enforcement measures, digital transformation initiatives, and improved taxpayer services, in 2024 the agency collected ₱2.852 trillion, exceeding its target of ₱2.848 trillion, a 13% increase from the previous year’s revenues.
