PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appealed on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, for the public to pay the correct amount of taxes on time, noting that it serves as their support to the country’s economic recovery and expansion.
During the 2023 National Tax Campaign Kickoff in Pasay City, Marcos expressed confidence that the public will continue to “cooperate, collaborate, and coordinate with the government on how to improve the experience of our tax collection system.”
“Rest assured that this government will remain committed to managing and utilizing these contributions for the benefit of the country and for every Filipino. And also, we will ensure that every peso of taxes paid will become an investment in uplifting the quality of lives of every Juan and Juana,” he said.
“Together, let us join hands in building a more equitable, progressive, and prosperous society where every Filipino has the chance to improve their lives, pursue their aspirations, and contribute to the building of our nation,” he added.
Marcos acknowledged the effort of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as he highlighted its critical role it plays in ensuring that the government’s programs and projects are wholly funded and implemented.
In 2022, 115 cases were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) amounting to P5.1 billion in tax liability, while 38 cases were filed with the Court of Tax Appeals amounting to an estimated P5.32 billion in estimated tax liability.
Just recently, 74 criminal complaints for tax evasion were filed with the DOJ, with about P3.58 billion in tax liability.
Marcos said these efforts have brought P550 million to the government coffers.
He said the BIR broadened the country’s Tax Base through the aggressive Tax Compliance Drive, which resulted in the collection of more than P250 million in 2022, which was double of what it was in the previous year.
Marcos said the growth represented a “remarkable” 13 percent higher than the BIR’s own target of three percent for the year and covered around 5.2 million business taxpayers.
He assured that the National Government will support the bureau’s modernization efforts especially through the digital transformation.
“As we move forward to the future, the importance of utilizing modern and updated technology to ensure a more tax [efficient] collection becomes absolutely imperative. It is my hope that the Bureau will continue its commitment to pursuing and upgrading its digitalization programs,” said Marcos.
“I also furthermore challenge the men and women of the BIR to work towards further gaining the confidence of the public in the tax system by upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and competence in the performance of your duties. I assure the BIR that this administration will always give its support in your aspiration of developing a country that is conducive for employment opportunities, financial investments, and institution-building,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)