THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 11 reduced its tax collection target for this year for Davao Region, aiming to collect more than P19.3 billion this year, compared to the P20.4 billion tax collection target in 2018.
BIR Collection Division chief revenue officer IV Marnelita Legaspi told SunStar that this is due to the national agency’s expectation of a reduced collection of income tax because of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law, which exempts minimum wage earners from paying tax.
“This reduction is actually a good thing. Yung mga minimum wage earners, they will enjoy it kasi wala ng tax sa kanila. Doon nalang tayo sa malakihan at sa mga businesses,” she said.
“Before, early January ang goal this year sana is P26 billion. So gumawa tayo ng justification kasi ang effect sa Train Law ay hindi pa na-consider that time,” she added.
Despite the unreached tax collection target in 2018, which is only P16.8 billion or 18.73 percent deficient from P20.4 billion, BIR Legal Division chief Monica Delfina Penelope said they are optimistic of that they will achieve this year’s target.
Penelope said that taxpayers in the region should also be mindful of their tax obligations for them to be able to reach the 2019 tax collection goal.
“We would like to request all our taxpayers to pay their taxes correctly and promptly to help the government have the needed fund, especially now that our President is into the Build, Build, Build program,” she said.
“This will help in the development and progress of our country. Rest assured that we are also doing our best to correct the taxes efficiently and that we will continue a quality customer service to all taxpayers,” she added.