The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) commends Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza and the Bureau of Internal Revenue for the One-Time Abatement Program for Micro Taxpayers, which gives micro businesses a practical way to resolve old tax liabilities and close pending cases.

According to BIR data, as of October 24, 2026, 3,929 micro taxpayers had benefited from the program, with P266.79 million in taxes and penalties abated. The BIR had received 17,101 applications, of which 15,050 had been approved. These figures show that the program is already providing substantial relief to thousands of micro businesses.

For many micro enterprises, unresolved tax cases add financial pressure and uncertainty on top of the day-to-day challenges of running a business. The abatement program allows qualified taxpayers to settle covered obligations and put these cases behind them.

PCCI strongly supports the BIR’s plan to expand the program to small taxpayers. Extending the program to businesses with annual gross sales of P3 million to below P20 million will allow more enterprises to resolve outstanding tax cases and ease a burden that may have remained on their books for years.

PCCI will help disseminate information on the program through its members, local chambers, and business networks so that qualified micro taxpayers are aware of the availment period and know how to participate. We stand ready to work with the BIR to help reach as many qualified businesses as possible.

PCCI likewise recognizes the vital role of MSMEs in the Philippine economy and the importance of helping them build strong, sustainable compliance practices. As many MSMEs continue to recover and expand, sustained access to clear guidance, taxpayer education, and responsive assistance from the BIR can make a meaningful difference in their ability to meet their obligations with confidence. In this regard, we appreciate the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to professionalize tax administration, including the use of Letters of Authority (LOAs) to ensure that audits are properly authorized and conducted with due process.

We look forward to working with the BIR to further strengthen taxpayer education and support programs for MSMEs, so that compliance becomes easier, more predictable, and better aligned with the capacity and needs of smaller enterprises.