BIR overshoots December collection target but misses 2013 goal

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday said it beat its collection target for December, but the growth in tax revenues for that month was not enough to meet the full-year 2013 goal.  

 

In a statement, the BIR reported that tax revenues grew at an annual 9.1 percent to P96.63 billion in December, above the government's goal of P90.7 billion for the month. 

 

This bolstered the full-year 2013 tax revenue tally to P1.217 trillion. Despite the 15.9 percent increase year-on-year, collections were not enough to meet the P1.253-trillion goal last year. 

 

Specifically, collections from BIR operations grew at an annual 9.62 percent to P94.07 billion in December 2013, but receipts from non-BIR operations declined by 7.06 percent year-on-year to P2.56 billion. 

 

Last month, Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares ordered collection offices to haul P1.456 trillion to state coffers this year. 

 

This year's collections goal is 16.16 percent higher than last year's target. 

 

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has said the government will continue to plug tax collection leaks this year, especially tax evasion by professionals and businesses. —Siegfrid O. Alegado/KG, GMA News