The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Tuesday it collected P2.3 trillion as of November 2023, exceeding the previous year’s P2.16 trillion by 8.6 percent.
The agency said the improved collection performance was the result of intensified programs and initiatives to encourage taxpayer compliance and the continuous implementation of tax enforcement activities.
It said that through its Run After Fake Transactions (RAFT) program launched in March 2023, the agency filed cases against four ghost corporations with estimated tax liabilities of P25.5 billion and three corporate buyers and their officers, accounting firms and certified public accountants (CPAs) with total estimated tax liabilities of P17.9 billion.
It also filed 15 criminal cases against buyers and sellers of ghost receipts at the Department of Justice (DOJ) covering estimated tax liabilities of P1.8 billion.
The BIR said its strict nationwide enforcement operations on the illicit trade of cigarettes, vape and other excisable articles and sweetened beverages, perfumes and toilet water also led to increased tax collections. Data showed that from January to December 2023, the BIR collected P137.18 million and issued 1,096 mission orders.
It said to promote taxpayer compliance and confidence in the tax system, the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program filed 221 cases before the DOJ with estimated tax liabilities of P13.24 billion from January to November 2023.
Meanwhile, 38 cases with an estimated tax liability of P5.06 billion were filed with the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) in the same period.
The BIR said it collected P410.94 million and issued 186 closure orders for businesses found to have violated essential value-added tax (VAT) requirements through its Oplan Kandado program in the 11-month period.
Meanwhile, taxpayers who filed their taxes electronically versus manually comprised 69 percent of total filers as of November 2023, reflecting a breakthrough in the agency’s continuous efforts to make tax compliance more convenient and accessible for all, it said.
The BIR said it also ramped up its digital transformation (DX) program to convert the bureau into a data-driven organization by utilizing reliable, scalable and robust digital technologies that elevate taxpayer experience.