BIR needs 21,000 add’l examiners

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) needs 21,000 revenue collector examiners to boost its tax collection efforts nationwide, the agency’s head said.

On the launch of the 2017 Tax Campaign recently in Malolos, Bulacan, BIR commissioner Ceasar Dulay said those who would qualifty for the posts would be entitled to Salary Grade 11, with the position of Revenue Collector Examiner I.

Dulay also revealed his office has asked Congress to exempt BIR employees from the government’s salary standardization scheme to enable them a separate salary standard for higher pay and attract the best accountants and lawyers in the agency’s ranks.

Dulay said at present, the BIR offers a lawyer  a salary of merely P30,000 monthly while lawyers in private firms get at least P50,000. On the other hand, BIR accountants get a pay of only about P25,000 while their counterparts in private firms receive salaries worth no less than P40,000.

He noted higher salaries would also minimize corruption in the BIR. He said BIR has continued reforms found effective since the administration of former president Gloria Arroyo, including the Lateral Attrition Law which imposes sanctions against employees who do not meet targets, while giving out rewards to those who hit or even surpass targets.