𝗕𝗜𝗥, 𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗫 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗔𝗪𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗜𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦

As seen on BIR’s official Facebook Page – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) met with Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, who serves as Chairperson of the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS), together with officials and members of the ULAS Secretariat, on Monday, March 9, to discuss proposed tax incentives for lawyers rendering free legal services under the ULAS framework.

The meeting, held at the BIR National Office in Quezon City, forms part of ongoing coordination between the BIR and ULAS to strengthen institutional support for legal aid and improve access to justice.

During the discussion, ULAS representatives proposed the issuance of new revenue regulations aligned with the ULAS Rules, building on Revenue Regulations No. 12-2022, which provides guidelines for tax incentives under Republic Act No. 9999, or the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010.

The discussions highlighted that legal assistance under the ULAS framework extends not only to indigent litigants but also to other qualified or covered beneficiaries, consistent with the expanded scope of services under the ULAS Rules.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said the Bureau will carefully evaluate the proposals to ensure that any future regulations are responsive, practical, and aligned with existing tax policies.

“We recognize the vital role of lawyers in advancing access to justice. The BIR will work closely with ULAS to develop a system that appropriately supports and incentivizes the provision of legal aid services,” Mendoza said.

Both parties agreed to continue close coordination to refine the proposed framework, including the harmonization of documentary requirements and implementation guidelines.

Joining the Commissioner were Deputy Commissioners Larry M. Barcelo and Teresita M. Angeles, Assistant Commissioner Marivic A. Galban, OIC–Head Revenue Executive Assistant Juanito H. Balbastre III, and officials from the Office of the Commissioner and the BIR Legal Group.