Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176949976378620180111-bir-central-office-5295-MD-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Bureau of Internal Revenue&#x27;s central office in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>The Bureau of Internal Revenue&#x27;s central office in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced on Tuesday that the suspension on the issuance of letters of authority (LOA), which are notices for an audit, has been lifted. The country&#x27;s main tax agency said reforms have been put in place to guard against possible abuses of audit procedures, which many businesses complained about last year. Senator Erwin Tulfo had even called for a blue ribbon committee probe into what he called a moneymaking scheme within the BIR, claiming that field audits were being used to harass businesses.&quot;When we suspended the audits we wanted to review the protocols, the processes, and see where the vulnerabilities are. We are now done with the review. The Technical Working Group has come up with recommendations so we are now ready to resume,&quot; said BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza.Among the changes he cited is the implementation of a single-instance audit framework, meaning LOA issuances will be limited to one letter per taxpayer per taxable year.The BIR will also shut down the Value Added Tax audit section and VAT audit teams, and disband all task forces. Audit authority will now be limited to the regional offices and the large taxpayers’ service.The BIR added that taxpayers can use its Revie chatbot to verify the authenticity of any LOA, following reports of fake issuances.&quot;Some taxpayers, some sectors have raised the concern that they are not sure if the LOA that was issued to them was indeed officially issued by the BIR. And so we came up with that system where we can actually verify if the LOA that they received is authentic and was officially issued by the BIR,&quot; said Mendoza.Given all this, Mendoza expects all audit operations to be more transparent, controlled and have clearer oversight. He said taxpayers and businesses can be assured of fair and responsible audits for all.&quot;Magiging maayos na ang audits natin moving forward. Hindi na po nila dapat katakutan,&quot; he added.Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go meanwhile expressed support for the BIR, and vowed to monitor the rollout of reforms.&quot;These changes align with the administration&#x27;s big, bold reforms to improve the ease of doing business and strengthen trust in government. As audits resume, we urge taxpayers and the public to actively participate in implementing these reforms. Your engagement is critical in ensuring these improvements succeed,&quot; said Go.<div> </div><div> </div>

The Bureau of Internal Revenue Monday announced the suspension on the issuance of Letters of Authority has been lifted, saying reforms are now in place.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue Monday announced the suspension on the issuance of Letters of Authority has been lifted, saying reforms are now in place.

BIR lifts LOA issuance suspension; says reforms ‘in place’

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BIR lifts LOA issuance suspension; says reforms ‘in place’

ABS-CBN News

Published January 27, 2026 12:36 PM PHT

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Updated January 27, 2026 03:43 PM PHT

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Bureau of Internal Revenue

Letter of Authority

tax audit

BIR

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