Cordillera tax bureau eyes P4-B for 2013

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Cordillera has set some P4.3 billion in target collections in 2013 that will be bolstered by the collections from taxes withheld by politicians from their campaign spending.

Last year, the BIR fell short of P38 million of its P3.390-billion target.

BIR Regional Director Eduardo Bajador said this is nothing to be dismayed as the agency has been effective in its collection efforts in the past year with 98 percent collection rate compared to target and exceeding by 16 percent their collections last year.

This as they surpassed the previous year’s collections by as much as P500,000.

“Every year, there is always a steep target. But we tried our best and we will strive better to reach our target next year,” he said.

The BIR has been stepping-up its efforts in reaching its collection targets for the year with Deputy Commissioner Lilia Guillermo claiming they are achieving it through strategies in running after tax evaders, improving compliance of taxpayers and focusing on law enforcement.

Guillermo said the BIR has set a high target for this year after achieving its first trillion peso collection with some P1.2-trillion national collection target for 2013.

She said they are banking on the challenge of Mayor Mauricio Domogan that there are some sectors that have been poorly remitting their taxes especially in the city market where he said some 40 percent have not been issuing receipts.

The deputy commissioner said an additional information and education campaign is important for them to achieve goals. She added efforts to make remittances of taxes online. Businesses are also provided with tax remittance software to ensure they are able to withhold taxes monthly.

This way, long lines, especially during filing of income tax return, can be prevented, Guillermo said.

She added they also need to pursue accreditation of printers of receipts to end issues on connivance of printers with business owners. Through the accreditation of printers they hope to increase collections of value added taxes as the use of receipts remain.