BIR Davao still P2B short of goal
By Rose B. Palacio
Davao City (14 December) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional office is doing its best to be able to reach its target collection goal in the region of P7,110,625,000 this year.
"We are still catching up an additional of about P2-billion to be able to achieve our collection goal, one of the biggest goals outside Metro Manila," said BIR regional director Atty. Marcelinda Omila-Yap.
"Collections for the 10-month period (January to October) has reached P5,431,131,674.25. Compared to last year's (2006) same period collection of P4.8-billion, we have an increase over previous collection by P625.5-million or by 13.20%, Atty. Omila-Yap said told the Philippine Information Agency in an exclusive interview" she added.
In compliance with the order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves has directed the BIR to prosecute big-time tax evaders under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program. The President wanted to see more high-profile pursued cases to boost the government's anti-tax evasion campaign.
Finance Secretary Teves and BIR Commissioner Lilian Hefti instructed all regional executive heads to run after large companies that owe close to P5-billion in back taxes and aims to collect these before the end of the year.
These back taxes come from bank's unpaid taxes on special savings accounts and foreign currency deposits (P2-billion), the insurance firm's unremitted documentary stamps taxes on insurance policies (P500-million) and large companies that have been placed under the BIR's tax audit on suspicion of tax delinquency (P1.6-billion).
The BIR central office also expects to collect P776-million from companies that have lost in their tax evasion taxes.
However, with the new program of BIR on Tax Amnesty, tax delinquents will have a chance to clear their records under the implementing rules and regulations of Tax Amnesty law, said Director Omila-Yap.
Under the amnesty law, tax delinquents qualified for the amnesty will no longer face tax evasion charges as long as they pay the BIR the equivalent of 5.0 percent of their net worth as of 2005. The 5.0 percent will take the place of their outstanding tax liabilities and interest as of 2005.
In the implementing rules and regulations, taxpayers with pending tax evasion cases can apply for amnesty but those whose cases have been decided with finality by the courts will not be allowed to apply. (PIA XI) [top]
