Tax bureau says it exceeded December target by P3B

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has exceeded its December target by P3 billion — higher than the initial estimate of P1.5 billion — as collections from its regional offices were incorporated in its database. "We thought we exceeded the target for December by P1.5 billion. Based on the latest figures, the excess is running to P3 billion," BIR Commissioner Joel L. Tan-Torres told reporters at the sidelines of a forum with bankers late Thursday evening. "Some collection figures from far-flung offices came in." The BIR was tasked to collect P60.03 billion in December alone. A surplus of P3 billion would mean that the tax bureau earned more than P63 billion for that month. Tan-Torres reiterated that the improved public visibility of the BIR’s programs enabled it to hit its target that month. This (exceeding of target) is due to high-visibility campaigns. We also started putting in enhancement measures then like running after big-ticket items," he said without elaborating. The tax bureau incurred a P56.5-billion shortfall as of November, collecting P681.9 billion against a target of P738.4 billion. If the bureau managed to surpass its December target by P3 billion, the collection gap for the entire year of 2009 should have improved to at least P53.5 billion. BIR officials had previously admitted that they were not able to meet their P798.5-billion target last year due to a slower economy and the various tax cuts passed by Congress. The tax chief said he will continue to come up with programs designed to maximize potential sources of revenues. For this year, the bureau is tasked to collect P830 billion. Aside from improving public awareness of enforcement and service programs, other measures planned by the BIR to raise revenues include strengthening the Run After Tax Evaders Program, enhancing the monitoring of large taxpayers’ transactions, more vigorous sharing of information with other agencies, and motivating its workforce. — Alexis Douglas B. Romero, BusinessWorld