BIR cites Caloocan for prompt tax payments

MANILA, Philippines - The Caloocan City government received the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) top local government taxpayer award for 2009 for paying its tax obligations on time.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri said the city government received the same award last year. “The city government was awarded by the BIR because we continually support its programs and activities in the collection of taxes for the past years,” he said.

He said the city government remits to the BIR an average amount of P8 million in withholding taxes deducted from employees and contractors every month.

Echiverri also said the city government’s sound fiscal management under his watch reduced withholding tax arrears from P168 million accumulated during two previous administrations to P94 million.

City treasurer Evelina Garma, who accepted the BIR award last week, said the city government has been looking for ways to improve its tax collections every year. – Pete Laude