NTRC Marks 65 Years of Tax Reform Leadership

The National Tax Research Center (NTRC) celebrated its 65th anniversary on May 28 with a renewed commitment to building a tax system that is simple, transparent, and compassionate.

During the event, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto underscored the agency’s role in shaping a fair and humane tax policy that enables the government to meet its obligations without burdening future generations.

“As you mark this milestone, let me say this: the next chapter of NTRC is not just about refining formulas or reviewing fiscal frameworks. It is about making every Filipino feel seen and heard in the way we collect, allocate, and explain taxes,” Recto said.

Established in 1960, the NTRC operates under the Department of Finance (DOF) with a mandate to conduct continuous research on taxation and provide data-driven insights for policymaking.

The agency has long supported major revenue reform proposals by ensuring alignment with national development goals and responsiveness to global tax trends.

Recto praised the NTRC’s long-standing contribution to fiscal policy, calling taxation “the foundation of a working government and proof of the shared responsibility between the government and the people.”

“They are the means by which we pool our hopes, our sacrifices, and our resources. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit may silid-aralan ang mga bata sa Sulu. Kung bakit may maayos na kalsada para sa mga magsasaka sa Isabela. At kung bakit may libreng gamot para sa mga pasyente sa Maynila,” Recto said.

He also stressed the ethical imperative behind the NTRC’s work, describing the agency as “the conscience of the tax system” for its role in challenging poor policy and promoting sound legislation.

“May this celebration not just be a look back, but a step forward. Because the work of making taxes fair, simple, and humane never ends. And in that profound mission, the NTRC will always matter,” he said.

The NTRC also serves as the Secretariat to the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), where it evaluates fiscal incentives granted to large-scale investment projects, ensuring that they contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

As part of the Marcos administration’s push for digital transformation, the NTRC upgraded the Fiscal Incentives Registration and Monitoring System (FIRMS) in 2024.

This overhaul streamlined the application and compliance processes for investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and registered business enterprises (RBEs), boosting transparency and efficiency.

Beyond policymaking, the NTRC plays a key role in tax education, regularly publishing the Tax Research Journal, FIRB Imprint, and monthly e-newsletters aimed at increasing public awareness of tax-related issues.

“I know you’ll keep doing what you do best: challenging bad ideas, improving good ones, at ang pagpapaalala sa aming lahat na ang buwis ay usapin ng pagiging makatao at maka-Pilipino,” Recto said.