2007 BIR Monitor

BIR ended the year 2007 with the issuance of RR No. 15-2007 last December 28 to allow the abatement of penalties/surcharges and interest on disputed/litigated assessments.

The BIR will continue its audit and investigation activities even during the Christmas Season.

Over a hundred tax administrators from fifteen (15) countries and two (2) international organizations convened last November 19 to 22 for the 37th Meeting of the Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR) held at the Shangrila’s Mactan Island Resort in Cebu.

Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves and top BIR officials led by Commissioner Lilian B. Hefti held a Command Conference last September 14 to discuss the current tax collection programs and performance of the BIR, as well as the progress on various action points, which were raised during the August 13 Command Conference presided by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the BIR to focus on the investigation of big tax evaders who have been depriving the government of billions of taxes, as she presided over the Bureau’s Command Conference held at the BIR National Office last August 13.

The BIR celebrated its 103rd founding anniversary last August 1 with the theme, “Pagbubuklod sa Mithiing Matatag at may Kakayahang Iangat ang Antas ng Kabuhayan.” 

Last June 29, Commissioner Jose Mario C. Buñag formally relinquished the top post of the BIR which he held for almost two years. Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Lilian B. Hefti was named OIC-Commissioner. 

The BIR launched last May 17 the National Program Support for Tax Administration Reform (NPSTAR) at the Bureau’s National Training Center.

A new paradigm in meeting the BIR’s CY 2007 collection target has been adopted by the BIR as mandated by the Secretary of Finance.

The Nationwide Rollout of Computerized Systems (NRCS) Project started its rollout of four (4) front-end systems in Revenue District Office No. 59 – Lipa City last March 12.

The BIR ranked 5th among 70 government agencies in terms of compliance to the requirements of the Integrity Development Action Plan for the year 2006.

The BIR signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) to grant “qualified corporations” the privilege of last priority in audit and investigation for a certain period.