BIR hopes to hit P105-B target in April

MANILA, Philippines -- Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commission head Kim S. Jacinto-Henares has expressed optimism the agency can hit its P105.12 billion collection target in April, which is historically the strongest month for tax collection.

“I visited some of our revenue districts in Metro Manila and it seems fine, there were some queues but I think it's normal because it was the last day of filing. Our people have told me that compared with the previous years, tax-payers this year filed their income tax return ahead of the April 15 deadline,” Jacinto-Henares said.

“With the turnout, I'm optimistic that we will meet the target. What’s important, however, is that we are doing everything and working very hard to meet our goals,” she added.

The April collection goal accounts for 11.7 percent of BIR's P940 billion target for the whole of 2011. The BIR is responsible for more than 60 percent of the government’s annual revenue collection.

Although the month of April has always been the strongest collection month, the BIR does not usually attain its collection goal for the month’s tax season.

The government’s main revenue agency's collection target this month is 15.26 percent higher than its actual take of P91.5 billion in the same month last year.

From January to March, the BIR, through its 19 regional offices, conducted tax information drives nationwide to encourage taxpayers to pay the right amount of income taxes on or before the deadline to avoid congestion in its offices that may tend to distract the agency from doing other work.

Meanwhile, Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran is hopeful that this month's collection performance of the BIR will be significantly higher compared with the previous year to fund the much needed infrastructure projects and social services of the Aquino administration.

Beltran also warned that those who failed to file their income tax return will be easily identified by the BIR.

“With the technology that we have today, it is much easier for the BIR to determine who failed or didn't pay correct taxes,” he said.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima had repeatedly reminded all taxpayers of their responsibility to file income tax returns.

Purisima also said that the P73.8-million tax evasion case filed against Rep. Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Arroyo of Ang Galing Pinoy party-list by the BIR along with other run after tax evaders (RATE) cases should serve as lessons to the public.

“It’s no longer business as usual at the BIR and the Bureau of Customs. The Aquino government is determined to send to jail all tax evaders and smugglers who rob the Filipino people of their much needed government revenues,” Purisima said.