19/05/2026
BIRโs new โEase of Closing Businessโ guidelines under RMC No. 47-2026 provide a much-needed remedy for taxpayers who were unable to formally close their BIR registration after ceasing business operations.
In many cases, businesses stop operating for years without processing proper closure with the BIR, resulting in accumulated penalties, open cases, and difficulties in securing tax clearances. This has also affected heirs and families of deceased taxpayers, especially when banks and other institutions require BIR clearance before releasing remaining assets or funds.
While this reform does not remove the importance of proper compliance, it helps simplify the process of finally closing inactive businesses and resolving long-standing tax registration issues.
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Simplified closure requirements
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Faster issuance of tax clearance
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Relief for micro taxpayers
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Easier resolution of dormant or unclosed registrations
If you need assistance in processing business closure, tax clearance, or resolving open BIR registrations, TaxWise is here to help.
๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆโ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก; ๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฆ
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 47-2026 on May 19, 2026, prescribing new guidelines to simplify the process for closing businesses and cancelling tax registration, as part of the implementation of Republic Act No. 11976, otherwise known as the โEase of Paying Taxes Act.โ
โThis is our โEase of Closing Businessโ reform,โ Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said. โIn line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.โs directive to make government services faster, better, and more responsive, and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Goโs push to make tax administration more investor-friendly and business-friendly, the BIR is making it easier for taxpayers who have already ceased operations to properly close their business and cancel their registration.โ
โFrom improving the ease of doing business and the ease of paying taxes, this reform completes the BIRโs support for businesses through every stage of the business life cycle. If we make it easier to start and operate a business, then the government must also make it easier to properly close BIR registration once operations have already ceased,โ he added.
Under RMC No. 47-2026, taxpayers who have already ceased operations may now apply for the closure or cancellation of their registration, either manually or electronically, through the Revenue District Office where their head office or branch is registered.
The Circular simplifies and standardizes documentary requirements. Together with the application form and the surrender of original BIR registration documents and permits previously issued to the business, taxpayers will only be required to submit two other document sets for closure: the list of ending inventory of goods and supplies, including capital goods for VAT-registered taxpayers, and the unused invoices, supplementary documents, and other unutilized accounting forms, together with their inventory.
Under the new guidelines, penalties for non-filing of tax returns shall no longer accrue once the taxpayer submits the complete documentary requirements for the closure or cancellation of registration. To prevent the further accumulation of open cases, the taxpayerโs registered form types shall likewise be placed under โderegisteredโ status upon submission of the complete requirements. Filing an application for the closure or cancellation of registration, however, does not preclude the Bureau from conducting an audit to determine any outstanding tax liabilities.
In addition, micro taxpayers shall not be subject to mandatory audit for closure and/or cancellation of business registration. Hence, tax clearances will be issued within three (3) working days from submission of complete documentary requirements for those with no open cases or outstanding liabilities. For micro taxpayers with open cases, tax clearance will be issued within three (3) working days from the submission of the complete documentary requirements and the payment of outstanding liabilities, including penalties.
Commissioner Mendoza encouraged taxpayers who have already ceased operations to avail themselves of the streamlined process to avoid the continued accumulation of penalties and to properly update their registration records with the Bureau.
Read the full RMC here:https://bir-cdn.bir.gov.ph/BIR/pdf/RMC%20No.%2047-2026.pdf
