Local BIR not confident of meeting revenue goal

Collection target hiked 44 percent to P36.6 billion for this year

The  local Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) official is worried that the higher revenue collection target of P36.6 billion for this year will not be achieved.

“Taas kaayo. Naglisod na gani mi last year, unsa nalang kaha karon (It’s very high. We already encountered difficulties last year, more so now),” said BIR 13 regional director Hermeno A. Palamine.

The collection target for BIR 13 regional office was increased by 44 percent to P36.6 billion this year from P25.4 billion last year.

Under the jurisdiction of BIR 13 are the revenue district offices (RDO) in Mandaue, Cebu City North, Cebu City South, Talisay, and Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Each district has been assigned a collection target, as follows: RDO Cebu City North is expected to collect P12.3 billion; RDO Mandaue, P10 billion; RDO Cebu City South, P8.8 billion; RDO Talisay, P2.6 billion; and RDO Tagbilaran, P2.5 billion.

Nationwide, the goal this year is to collect P2.025 trillion, 21 percent higher than the P1.674-trillion target last year.

Since assuming office in 2012, Palamine said BIR 13 missed its targets only in 2013, when the massive earthquake struck Cebu and Bohol and when Supertyphoon Yolanda cut a swath of destruction through the Visayas.

The shortfall did not reach 7.5 percent below collection targets, and the agency was still not one of the tail-end performers, said BIR 13 legal chief Atty. Neri Yu.

In 2014, BIR 13 was one of only two revenue regions that were able to reach their targets.

Last year, the regional office was able to collect around P25.8 billion, surpassing its target by around 1.72 percent.

Palamine said that while taxes collected from election-related spending may help, these may not be enough to reach the 2016 target.

He said taxes from big ticket developments would significantly help reach targets, citing the developments of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Filinvest Land, Inc. at the South Road Properties which boosted revenues last year.

“This year, our campaign for tax collection is massive  due to the goal. We will be doubling our efforts,” Palamine said.

The agency will not only be intensifying efforts to increase compliance among business establishments, but among individuals as well.

In line with this, Palamine urged taxpayers to pay their taxes on time.

The BIR head office will kick off its tax campaign on February 4 for the April 15 filing deadline. For BIR 13, the launch will be on March 11.

“We urge our taxpayers to file and pay the correct taxes on time. Do not wait for April 15,” the director said.