MANILA: Philippines bureau of internal revenue has grown by 9.64% in 2014 but could not achieve its target. The BIR collected P1.334 trillion in taxes last year, up 9.64 percent from P1.217 trillion in 2013, preliminary data presented by Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares at a forum hosted by the Center for Philippine Futuristics Studies and Management Inc. last Friday showed.
The 2014 take, however, was 8.41-percent below the target of P1.46 trillion. Henares later told reporters that since the figure she had presented was still “tentative” and unreconciled with the official figures to be released by the Bureau of the Treasury, the 2014 tax collection figure of the BIR could still go up.
When asked why the BIR missed last year’s goal, Henares said “mataas ‘yong target (the target was high).” The preliminary data based on 1,209 reports of the BIR’s revenue district offices showed that the bulk or P1.297 trillion in collections last year was contributed by BIR operations. Collections from BIR operations in 2014 rose 10.03 percent from P1.179 trillion in 2013, but were 7.72-percent below the target of P1.405 trillion. Collections from non-BIR operations, on the other hand, dropped by 2.37 percent to P37.09 billion last year from 2013’s P37.99 billion, and 27.32-percent below the P51.03-billion goal.
This will entail affixing tax stamps on liquor—similar to an ongoing program on tobacco—to ensure the collection of correct excise taxes on alcohol products under the Sin Tax Reform Law. Also, among the BIR’s priority programs for this year are the Enhanced Mobile Revenue Collection Officers System; E-Linkage with the Bureau of the Treasury; Forfeited Asset Management; Integrity Management Program; Capacity Development and Public Awareness; Workflow Management System; Expansion of ISO Certification to Other District Offices; Exchange of Information program and the implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act Intergovernmental Agreement Model 1; Human Resources Information System; Procurement, Payment, Inventory, Distribution and Monitoring System; Strategic Performance Management System; Transfer Pricing Program; and Industry Issues Resolution-Legal program.
According to Henares, Rate and Oplan Kandado have been “consistently among the top priorities, since these programs have a significant impact on the attainment of revenue goal.” Rate brings alleged tax evaders to court, while Oplan Kandado shutters establishments found deficient in paying the right taxes.
