Philippines: BIR expands digital taxpayers base by 5%

• Apr 21, 2022

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has expanded the coverage of its digital platforms to 4.63 million business taxpayers last year, up by more than five percent from 4.41 million in 2021.

The BIR yesterday said its digitalization transformation (DX) program now captures all of the new players in its taxpayer registry.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay attributed the expansion in the taxpayer base to the hiring of young workers adept in navigating digital platforms. He said BIR’s young personnel contributed in the agency’s measures to roll out the programs listed under its DX roadmap.

Dulay said the BIR grew its labor force by close to 44 percent to 13,818 in 2021 from just 9,626 in 2016. He added at least 6,540 were hired during the five-year period, net of separations like resignations and retirements.

“We can attribute our improved performance to DX programs, as well as the increasing number of young workers who are quicker and more adept at learning digital skills,” Dulay said.

Under the DX roadmap, the BIR has implemented the internal revenue integrated system, which serves as the agency’s repository to process taxpayer information.

Likewise, the BIR started enforcing the enhanced internal revenue stamps integrated system that manages the ordering, production, distribution, affixing, and tracking of tax stamps used to monitor excise compliance of tobacco products.

New business registrations were also transferred to the BIR’s web-based app launched in June 2021. The agency in charge of tax collections also put up online sites where taxpayers can complete tax procedures, including the electronic appointment that received around 90,000 bookings last year.

BIR collections recovered by over six percent to P2.08 trillion in 2021 from P1.96 trillion in 2020, but have yet to return to the pre-pandemic high of P2.19 trillion in 2019.

For the year, the BIR eyes to raise a total of P2.43 trillion, the bulk of which at P1.25 trillion will be sourced from taxes on net income and profits.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/04/21/2175570/bir-expands-digital-taxpayers-base-5