BIR Eastern Visayas eyes PHP8.67-B tax collection this year

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Eastern Visayas is targeting a PHP8.67 billion collection in 2016 or nearly PHP2 billion higher than the actual earnings last year.

BIR Assistant Regional Director Edgar Tolentino admitted that the goal is high, but they will “try their best” to attain the target by strengthening the enforcement of tax laws.

Of the PHP8.67 billion target, PHP5.68 billion will be from income tax, PHP2.17 million from value added tax, PHP10.72 million from excise taxes, PHP316.74 million from percentage tax, and PHP483.58 million other taxes.

Among revenue district offices (RDO), Tacloban City RDO in northern Leyte has the highest target with PHP3.69 billion. It is followed by Ormoc City RDO in western Leyte with PHP1.59 billion and Catbalogan City RDO in Samar with PHP1.14 billion.

Other RDOs got higher collection goals this year -- Catarman RDO in Northern Samar with PHP838.95 million, Borongan City RDO in Eastern Samar with PHP705.58 million, and Maasin City RDO in Southern Leyte with PHP699.01 million.

During the 2016 tax campaign kickoff, BIR Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe said the target has increased in all field offices nationwide by 40 percent. 

“This is a full administration target set in 2010 and we have to stick with it regardless of the country’s economic situation. If the regional or district revenue office fail to hit the target, they just have to explain,” Aspe said.

The tax agency is also counting computerization projects such as online system for transfer tax transactions, electronic certificate registration, and electronic tax information system to enhance revenue generation.

BIR will step up compliance monitoring through existing programs such as the run against tax evaders and Oplan Kandado.

In 2015, tax generated by the BIR in Eastern Visayas has reached PHP6.52 billion, exceeding the PHP6.39 revenue target by PHP131.13 million.

The region achieved its target in 2015 primarily due to high collection of revenue district offices (RDOs) in Borongan City, which covers Eastern Samar province and Tacloban City, which generates taxes from northern Leyte and Biliran province.

Higher taxes generated in Yolanda-hit provinces are largely contributed by massive post-disaster reconstruction activities. (PNA)
JBP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO