MARIA VICTORIA ESPAÑO
Based on the recent pronouncements from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), we expected to see improvements in the way the Bureau treats the taxpayers. There has been a promise that we can expect to see a “new” BIR. In a recent forum on policy developments, a key officer of the Bureau emphasized that taxpayer service will be a focus of the BIR. This is a shift from the position held by the previous commissioner. The focus and efforts of the Bureau then were solely on tax compliance and enforcement.