Hike in tax collection goal a huge challenge – BIR-13

CEBU, Philippines – It's a challenging year ahead for the Bureau of Internal Revenue-13 in Cebu City as its tax collection goal for 2016 has risen by 43 percent to P36.3 billion.

BIR Regional Director Hermeno Palamine claimed the 2016 target is too big and is a very big jump from the P25.4-billion 2015 goal.

Palamine even admitted that the tax goal last year was very challenging to hit.

Preliminary data showed that BIR-13 collected P25.8 billion in 2015, exceeding its target by 1.72 percent.

Palamine said they need potential big sources of revenue to meet the 2016 goal.

Neri Yu, legal chief of BIR-13, said that collection targets normally depend on the budgetary requirements of the national government.

The national government has set a P3.002-trillion national budget this year.

Election Spending

While election-related expenditures are seen to help boost the agency's collection, Palamine, however, noted that these are not that substantial.

The revenue official called on taxpayers, citing particularly the professionals, to pay the correct taxes to help the agency hit its target.

The last time BIR-13 fell short of its target was in 2013 when the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda hit some areas covered by BIR-13.

Revenue Region 13 covers revenue district offices Cebu City North, Cebu City South, Talisay City, Mandaue City and Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

This year RDO Cebu City North has the biggest collection goal at P12.3 billion, followed by Mandaue City (P10 billion), Cebu City South (P8.8 billion), Talisay City (P2.6 billion) and Tagbilaran City (P2.5 billion).

Nationwide, BIR is set to rake in P2.025 trillion in taxes this year, up 21 percent from the P1.674-trillion 2015 goal. (FREEMAN)