Cebu-based BIR 13 collects PHP13.4B in first half of 2016

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=903352
• Tuesday, July 12, 2016

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, July 12 (PNA) -- The Cebu-based Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 13 has collected a total of PHP13.4 billion in taxes in the first six months of the year, an official said.

But BIR 13 Director Hermeno Palamine said the collection for the first semester this year is 17.3 percent short of its goal for the period of PHP16.2 billion.

Palamine said the collection goal of BIR 13 for the whole year was set at PHP36.3 billion.

Palamine said the shortfall does not mean the local tax agency has not performed well, but it’s because the goal this year is too high to achieve.

He said the BIR 13’s collection target this year was increased by 43 percent from last year, but he remains “hopeful” of meeting the goal, although he once described the target as “mission impossible.”

The BIR 13 covers the revenue district offices (RDO) of Mandaue City, Cebu City North and South, Talisay City and Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

None of the five revenue districts hit their respective goals, Palamine said.

RDO Mandaue collected PHP4.1 billion while Cebu City North collected PHP5.4 billion.

Cebu City South’s collection was at PHP1.8 billion, Talisay City at PHP1 billion and Tagbilaran City at PHP1 billion.

Palamine said the decision of newly-appointed BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay to temporarily suspend all audits on taxpayers has affected BIR’s collection.

As of June 2016, BIR 13 has a total of 705,701 corporations and individual taxpayers.