UnionBank, BIR, Treasury, expand digital tax payment system

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), and UnionBank of the Philippines formally strengthened their digital payments partnership after signing a memorandum of agreement on February 24, 2026 at UnionBank Plaza in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

The agreement integrates UnionBank’s UPay facility into the government’s national collection system, giving taxpayers more web and mobile-based options to pay taxes and other government obligations.

The deal marks another step in the expansion of the government’s ePayment Project, first launched in 2019. It consolidates earlier arrangements designating UnionBank as an Authorized Agent Bank responsible for collecting and remitting national internal revenue taxes and customs duties.

Officials said the partnership is expected to improve efficiency, transparency and security in electronic tax payments while ensuring faster remittances and accurate recording of collections.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said the initiative forms part of the bureau’s broader modernization drive aimed at improving taxpayer experience and strengthening revenue administration.

“The UPay Facility provides taxpayers with enhanced web and mobile options to settle their obligations, reducing the need for in-person queues and manual processing,” Mendoza said. “Sa madaling salita, pinapadali natin ang pagbabayad ng buwis. And when the process is easier, trust grows and voluntary compliance becomes stronger.”

Mendoza added that the project supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve government service delivery and aligns with the Department of Finance’s reform agenda. The initiative also advances the BIR’s D.A.R.E.S. program, particularly its focus on service excellence and stronger stakeholder engagement.

UnionBank President and Chief Executive Officer Ana Maria Aboitiz Delgado said the bank remains committed to providing secure and accessible payment channels that support government services and national development.

“Under this supplemental agreement, UnionBank will continue to provide multiple ways for taxpayers to fulfill their obligations — through over-the-counter payments in our branches, digital banking channels, and UPay leveraging InstaPay, PCHC, PayGate, and other electronic payment rails,” Delgado said.

She added that the system allows taxpayers to choose convenient payment methods while ensuring collections are transmitted quickly and accurately to the Bureau of the Treasury’s Treasury Single Account.

Treasurer of the Philippines Sharon P. Almanza said the agreement represents another milestone in the government’s push for digital transformation in public financial management.

“Today marks another important milestone in our digital transformation journey as we modernize tax payment systems to make them more accessible while strengthening public financial management,” Almanza said.

“Through this Memorandum of Agreement and the UPay Facility, we are introducing secure, convenient, and cost-effective digital payment solutions that will help accelerate remittances and enhance transparency.”

She added that the initiative builds on earlier reforms such as the Treasury Single Account and the continued expansion of digital payment channels under the BIR’s ePayment Project.