BIR intensifies audit program

By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (20 January) -- Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) XI Director Atty. Marcelinda Omila-Yap said the government is set to intensify audit program in an effort to reduce tax leakages.

As per instruction from BIR Commissioner Jose Mario Bunag, BIR nationwide will tap possible tax sources to bolster the government's collection and attain target efficiency.

The Commissioner has also instructed regional executive heads to introduce innovative measures that will be more effective in plugging tax leakages and would result to enhanced tax collection.

Other measures in place is the nationwide industry profiling and benchmarking; revival of the Operation Accounts Receivable; expansion of the RELIEF program; and the implementation of the “No Operation Return” project.

The government's total revenue in 2005 was P816.2-billion and in 2006 the overall collection target was P976.5-billion.

Meanwhile, in Davao City, Revenue District Officer Jose Eric Furia, gracing the regular BIR Ug Ikaw radio forum over DXRP Radyo ng Bayan anchored by Dang Jumala and the Philippine information Agency said, RDO is holding regular tax forum for the taxpaying public awareness on the latest issuances coming from BIR central office.

We are holding regular dialogues, lectures and seminars for various sectors to further enlighten them on the recent features being implemented by BIR including the implementation of Republic Act 9337 or Expanded Value Added Tax and the strict implementation on the issuance of official receipts by all business establishments.

The regular BIR Ug Ikaw radio forum is being hosted by the BIR regional office and personnel of RDO such as Susan Tusoy, RDO assessment chief; Arlene Sinco; Beverly Montebon; ang Ms. Tes Nartatez of BIR regional office. (PIA)