BIR-13 highlights accomplishments, programs against tax evaders
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur -- During the recent Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 17, led by Regional Director Jose Eric Furia, highlighted their accomplishments and ongoing initiatives in Caraga, including its ‘Run After Tax Evaders’ (RATE) Program.
As the primary tax-collecting agency under the Department of Finance (DoF), the BIR’s role is crucial in the nation’s tax administration, especially in promoting transparency and simplifying tax compliance for the region's citizens.
The event served as a platform to discuss BIR’s various programs, initiatives, and their digital transformation to facilitate easier tax processes for Caraganons.
"Our office in BIR is a structured organization with well-defined authority and chain of command moving towards a common purpose," Dir. Furia stated, as he stressed the agency's strategic goals.
The agency's main goal is to foster a culture of compliance through initiatives like the ‘Run After Tax Evaders’ (RATE) Program, which targets criminal violations of the Tax Code. Furia shared BIR's mission of being "highly digital by 2028," aiming to provide excellent services and maintain international tax standards through empowered revenue officers.
This objective has led to notable progress, with the Caraga region surpassing its previous tax collection by reaching P6.9 billion as of August 2024, a significant increase from the previous year's P6.5 billion.
Furia also emphasized their efforts in enforcing tax compliance, including the Oplan Kandado Program, which involves temporarily closing businesses violating tax laws.
"On Oplan Kandado, this involves the temporary closure of businesses that violate tax laws such as failure to register, under-declaration of sales, or issuing fake invoices," he explained, revealing that 78 cases had been resolved, resulting in P18.5 million collected.
Furthermore, under the Strike Team initiative established by Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., the BIR confiscated illicit goods, including 347,869 packs of illegal cigarettes, incurring P219 million in penalties. Furia stressed the importance of such measures in deterring tax violations and ensuring fair competition.
In addition to enforcement, BIR Revenue Region No. 17 is focused on easing tax compliance for taxpayers through the ‘Ease of Paying Taxes Act’ (RA No. 11976), which introduces various changes in tax laws, including electronic filing and VAT invoicing.
"EOPT protects and safeguards taxpayers' rights and welfare, modernizes tax administration, and provides mechanisms that encourage proper compliance," Furia explained.
He further underscored the importance of tax education, with Revenue Region No. 17 conducting 734 seminars and webinars aimed at raising awareness and informing the public of their rights and responsibilities. This outreach is part of the agency’s broader mission to foster a compliant and well-informed taxpayer base in the region.
BIR's drive for operational excellence was further supported by its Digital Transformation Program, aimed at improving service delivery.
Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Dir. Lordel MonteclaroMonteclaro of BIR Revenue Region No. 17 shared, "We bring our services closer to the taxpayers with less time and effort, highlighting online tools like the Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) and ePayment Channels. These innovations aim to reduce taxpayers’ burden, providing easy access to services while allowing real-time data processing and fraud detection."
"With future plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) for faster responses, the BIR Region No. 17 is positioning itself as a tech-driven agency committed to quality service and efficiency. The region’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident. A well-informed taxpayer is a compliant taxpayer," added Monteclaro. (KKG, PIA-Agusan del Sur)
