BIR resumes tax surveillance

"It’s time to attack."

With these words, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr announced the resumption of the bureau’s tax surveillance drive.

The surveillance drive was suspended during the campaign period for the May 10 elections.

In a statement, Parayno said the resumption signals the return of the BIR to a more "proactive" stance in enforcing tax obedience and boosting collection.

As part of the bureau’s Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD), the tax surveillance has already netted thousands of tax violators and helped the BIR exceed its target of P424 billion in taxes with a total collection of P426.01 billion.

For this year the BIR is targeting P477 billion in taxes.

"Trotting down figures of tax surpluses and tax growth rates is not enough," Parayno said. "There is much for the bureau to accomplish in order for us to meet this year’s tax goal."

Parayno met with top bureau officials last week and discussed possible strategies for the next three quarters of the year. Among the measures discussed was the tax surveillance or tax mapping drive.