BIR-Eastern Visayas kicks off 2016 tax campaign

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 23 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has kicked off on Tuesday its 2016 tax campaign in Eastern Visayas with the aim to increase voluntary compliance to tax laws and sustain the momentum of higher tax earnings this year.

Hundreds of government officials, businessmen, academe officials, medical practitioners, media, professional groups, non-government organizations, certified public accountants, and lawyers have gathered to express support to the BIR tax campaign.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Nelson M. Aspe said the nationwide tax collection goal this year is 40 percent higher than in the previous year, which calls for intensified campaign and more cooperation of taxpayers.

In the case of the region, the 2016 collection goal is PHP8 billion, higher by PHP2 billion than the actual tax generated last year.

“Based on our assessment last year, the regional office in Eastern Visayas ranked number two out of 19 field offices in terms of collection performance. Our businessmen and tax payers in this region deserve credit,” Aspe said.

The BIR vowed to step up implementation of tax laws and facilitates voluntary compliance, noting that out of the 27 million registered payers, only 10 million are paying their taxes correctly.

“There are about 100 million Filipinos, but only 10 million of them are honestly paying their taxes. It goes to show that by ordinary estimates, of every 10 Filipinos, we have one taxpayer and nine dependents. That is very different to European counties where half of the population are taxpayers,” he explained.

Similar to previous years, the concept of love for the country is carried out in the BIR’s register file and pay (RFP) campaign, which advocates for the complete process of paying right taxes.

During the kick off drive, the BIR recognized 20 individuals, corporations, professionals and local government units for their contribution to the 2015 tax collection performance. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO