THE Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) expressed its support for the Bureau of Internal Revenue's expansion of the One-Time Tax Abatement Program to micro-enterprises and small taxpayers with annual gross sales between P3 million and below P20 million.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group said the expansion of the program is a "pragmatic, pro-business move that will heavily fortify the country's economic foundations."
"We commend the BIR for utilizing modern, simplified filing systems like the updated Offline eBIRForms Package to ensure that availing of this program is as seamless as possible," the group said in the statement.
The group encouraged qualified entrepreneurs to utilize the program ahead of its deadline at the end of the year while awaiting the formalization of the guidelines expanding the program to small taxpayers.
"We will be pleased to collaborate with the BIR in disseminating information to ensure that small businesses nationwide can achieve a fresh start, strengthen their compliance, and contribute more robustly to inclusive national growth," it added.
The One-Time Tax Abatement Program allows eligible micro taxpayers to settle past tax liabilities, open stop-filer cases, and accumulated penalties for a fixed, reduced lump-sum fee rather than paying the full accumulated amount.
Philexport noted that the initial implementation of the program under Revenue Regulations 4-2026 already proved to be highly successful.
The group recognized that local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up the majority of Philippine businesses and serve as the backbone of export supply chains.
It stated that the expansion of the program provides a lifeline to businesses still recovering from the pandemic's effects and navigating global market fluctuations.
It added that the implementation has allowed thousands of small entrepreneurs to clear their pending tax cases, settle outstanding obligations under favorable terms, and return to regular compliance.
Philexport said that the tax relief would allow businesses to redirect financial resources from penalties toward productivity, technological upgrades, and job generation.
It added that the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to improve the ease of doing business, as well as Finance Secretary Frederick Go's push for a more responsive tax administration.
