Philippines To Double Down On Tax Audits

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

12 February 2019

The Commissioner of the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue, Caesar Dulay, has said the country will introduce a more stringent audit program in 2019, to further improve the tax take.

He made the announcement at the launch of a new national tax campaign, launched on February 1, where it was announced that the agency collected PHP1.961 trillion (USD37.4bn) in 2018, four percent short of its PHP2.043 trillion goal but 10.15 percent higher than its revenue collection in the previous year.

Dulay was reported by the state news agency as saying the major goal for the bureau this year is the intensification of the audit program.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, during the same event, lauded the BIR's performance last year, state media reported. He attributed the higher collections to administrative reforms, increased availability of electronic payment options, the Run After Tax Evaders and Oplan Kandado Campaign, and the broadening of the tax base.

"This year, even if the goals are set higher, I am confident the Bureau will achieve a higher attainment rate," he was reported as saying. Adding: "Under the Duterte administration, illicit cigarette manufacturing will not be tolerated and tax evaders will be hounded ceaselessly."

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