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Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. For Catholics around the world, it is the beginning of the Lenten season which is a period for reflection and contemplation.

Many people will celebrate with their loved ones by giving flowers or boxes of chocolates, or by arranging dinner dates in restaurants or romantic places – gestures that show our appreciation and care for our loved ones.

Republic Act (RA) No. 10963 or the TRAIN Law introduced several major revisions to the National Internal Revenue Code (Tax Code) of 1997. While the law became effective 01 January 2018, some changes were made effective through staggered implementation.

Various changes relative to VAT have been implemented through the years. It cannot be denied that with the removal of the cross-border doctrine relative to sales to ecozones and freeport zones, VAT zero-rating has been suspended but is now fully implemented.

With the new year having just arrived, we can look forward to another year of exciting challenges and opportunities. For taxpayers following the calendar year as their tax period, the start of the new year marks the countdown for the April income tax deadline. While this is the most popular deadline for these taxpayers, we should not forget that there is also another BIR requirement that is due in April – the Request for Confirmation (RFC) to avail of tax treaty relief on certain income payments.

The Feast of Epiphany and the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord ended the Christmas season last January 8. This day also marked the end of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s suspension of audit and field operations.

With 2022 in our rearview mirrors, let us now face 2023 with full optimism and determination to succeed. To help us realize our aspirations for this new year, let us examine what 2023 has in store for us – taxpayers and tax practitioners alike.

Since the effectivity of Republic Act 11534, otherwise known as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has consistently released several issuances and clarifications to implement the amendments introduced therein. Last December 10, 2021, Revenue Regulation (RR) No. 21-2022 took effect, implementing the amended Value Added Tax (VAT) incentives of Registered Export Enterprises (REE) on their importations and local purchases, as provided under the Tax Code, as amended, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the CREATE Act.