2008 BIR Monitor

Reporting of complaints to the BIR is now made easier through the use of Short Message Service (SMS), more popularly known as texting. 

The BIR conducted a four-day Strategic Planning Workshop last December 10 to 13 in Antipolo City to formulate the agency’s strategies and action plans for the next five years. 

With the resignation of Commissioner Lilian B. Hefti as head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue last October, former Deputy Commissioner, Sixto S. Esquivias IV was appointed to assume the top post in the Bureau.

Last September 24, the BIR issued Revenue Regulations No. 10-2008 to implement Republic Act No. 9504 relative to the withholding of Income Tax on compensation and other concerns.

The BIR has clarified the taxability of insurance companies with respect to the proper computation of their Minimum Corporate Income Tax, Business Tax and Documentary Stamp Tax.

The BIR celebrated its 104th founding anniversary last August 1 with the theme “Buwis mong Babayaran, Ating Kinabukasan”. 

The BIR issued RMO No. 24-2008 last May 9 to lay down the policies and guidelines for the development, investigation and prosecution of cases under the Bureau’s Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) Program. 

Commissioner Lilian B. Hefti ordered all BIR investigating offices to establish industry/profession benchmarks to determine taxpayers who will be audited this year. 

In order to provide efficient service to the large taxpayers, the BIR issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 4-2008 last April 17 to amend the venue for filing of tax returns and payment of certain taxes due on onerous transfers of real properties owned by large taxpayers. 

The BIR clarified several tax issues, including the deadline for availment of the Tax Amnesty Program, which is May 5, 2008. 

To effectively utilize and maximize the banking system in receiving tax payments, the BIR has issued Revenue Regulations No. 2-2008 last February 29 to rationalize the grant of “float period” incentive to Accredited Agent Banks (AABs) and the imposition of penalties to the erring AABs.

For 2007, the BIR collected P 712.098 Billion, surpassing its 2006 collections by P 59.365 Billion or 9.09%.