MANILA -- Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Caesar Dulay is optimistic of hitting the agency's PHP1.829 trillion 2017 collection goal with greater cooperation from taxpayers and strengthened collection by regional offices.
He said they are trying their best to meet the target "with the cooperation of taxpayers." He admitted that revenue collection is "very tight" but pointed out that "the regions are doing very well."
"They are really working hard," he told reporters Thursday.
Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data show that as of end-August this year, BIR registered a 9 percent year-on-year uptick in collections to PHP1.157 trillion from year-ago's PHP1.058 trillion.
Dulay's optimism is partly due to the initial outcome for September. "We had a very good month in September. Our growth is...we have 97 percent collection," he said.
The BIR chief also cited the impact of the tie-up with the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank).
On Thursday, BIR and Landbank officials announced the program that allows Landbank savings and current account holders to pay their taxes online through the Landbank LinkBiz Portal.
Taxpayers first need to enroll their eBIRForms through the BIR website. After this, they need to visit the Landbank website and access its e-Banking tab, where they can see the tab for the LinkBiz Portal.
Landbank president Alex Buenaventura, in an interview by journalists at the launching, said they will eventually expand the program to all Bancnet card holders.
He said that Landbank accepts BIR payments over-the-counter and the volume payments from January to September this year has reached PHP43 billion.
"These people are the ones who will benefit from this program because they don't have to go to Landbank branches anymore just to pay their taxes," he said.
Buenaventura said tax payments made through this mode will be posted real time. Dulay hailed the benefit of this program in boosting BIR's revenue collections, citing that the agency is ready to address any eventualities.
"We encourage them (taxpayers who are Landbank account holders) to make use of this facility so they can avoid the penalties (for late payments)," he added.
BIR collects around 70 percent of government revenues. The agency has strengthened its revenue collection to ensure that government programs get the necessary funding, particularly those for infrastructure projects. (PNA)
