BIR revenue collection rises by over 27% in first 6 months

The Bureau of Internal Revenue regional office reported an increase of over P913-million in revenues generated from January to June this year, or 27.29 percent more than the collection for the same period last year.

Revenues generated through the first half of this year had hit a total of P4.262-billion, said regional director Jaime Santiago who attributed such collection high on the bureau's aggressive tax drive that raised the awareness of taxpayers.

Santiago said his revenue region no. 13, composed of Cebu and Bohol provinces, has been tasked to collect over P9 billion for this year and the half-year performance so far made him confident that the target would be achieved if not surpassed.

For the month of June this year alone, the BIR already generated P649.8-million in revenues, which is P106.2-million, or 19.54 percent higher than the collection for the same month last year.

Santiago also appealed to all corporate taxpayers and people engaged in business but are considered mixed income earners, to avail of the BIR's No Audit Program, which grants them incentives in exchange for their voluntary declaration and payment of higher taxes that last year.

Taxpayers who paid or are paying the minimum corporate income tax can now avail of the program, the deadline for applications of which will end this July 31, said Santiago.

Meanwhile, the National Tax Research Center recently asked the BIR to conduct periodic checks of alcohol and tobacco manufacturing plants to protect the collection of excise tax.

The tax center, a Department of Finance research arm, reasoned out that the periodic inspections would prevent the commission of front-loading, smuggling and counterfeiting that would affect the collection of excise tax from these firms.

The inspection would include analysis of data on the volume and collection on a per tax and per brand basis to deter manufacturers from resorting to front-loading as a way of avoiding payment of higher taxes.

But the BIR said there have been periodic checks of alcohol manufacturing plants in the region, specifically Cebu province where most of these firms are located. - Gregg M. Rubio, Ferliza C. Contratista