By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA î — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched a nationwide enforcement campaign on Tuesday that resulted in the temporary closure of 132 business establishments, as authorities stepped up efforts to combat tax evasion and improve compliance among taxpayers.
Dubbed Oplan Kandado 2026, the simultaneous operation covered hundreds of suspected tax violation cases across the country, with the BIR estimating potential unpaid taxes amounting to approximately ₱742.1 million based on value-added tax (VAT) compliance assessments.
The operation was coordinated through the BIR’s National Command Center in Quezon City, where revenue offices from different regions provided real-time updates on inspection activities and enforcement actions conducted nationwide.
According to the agency, a total of 419 establishments were subjected to compliance monitoring under the campaign, which follows the bureau’s policy of assisting taxpayers before resorting to punitive measures.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said business closures are implemented only after taxpayers have repeatedly failed to correct violations despite receiving guidance and opportunities to comply with tax laws.
He explained that the bureau first educates business owners about their obligations, provides assistance in correcting deficiencies, and allows them sufficient time to settle outstanding requirements before enforcement actions are taken.
As a result of these compliance efforts, several establishments were able to avoid closure after registering their businesses, filing overdue tax returns, and paying outstanding tax liabilities before enforcement orders were served.
Mendoza said the strategy reflects the government’s goal of making tax administration more service-oriented while ensuring that deliberate violations are dealt with firmly.
The commissioner also cited the bureau’s C.H.A.T. Drive—short for Counsel, Help, and Assist Taxpayers—which was introduced earlier this year to encourage voluntary compliance through direct engagement with business owners before enforcement operations begin.
Under existing procedures, establishments identified for possible closure undergo surveillance, validation, and the issuance of statutory notices. During this period, taxpayers are given opportunities to register their businesses, issue proper invoices or official receipts, submit required tax returns, and settle unpaid obligations.
The BIR also announced that its enforcement campaign now covers online businesses, emphasizing that digital entrepreneurs are subject to the same registration, invoicing, filing, and tax payment requirements as traditional brick-and-mortar establishments.
Mendoza warned that businesses operating in online marketplaces that continue to disregard tax regulations may face legal enforcement actions, including platform takedown measures where allowed under existing laws.
The bureau said Oplan Kandado will remain a year-round nationwide program as part of its continuing campaign to strengthen tax compliance, protect government revenues, and promote fairness among law-abiding taxpayers.
ia/xf
