THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it is consulting business groups to gain insights on how to streamline tax administration.
“We have signed a memorandum of understanding… We seek to get these organizations’ comments, suggestions, whatever they can contribute, so we can improve our services. One of the things we want to achieve is excellent taxpayer service. We can do this through consultations with the private sector,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. told reporters on Tuesday.
The BIR signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Tax Management Association of the Philippines; Management Association of the Philippines; Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines; Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice; Association of CPAs in Commerce and Industry; Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport), and the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines.
Deputy Commissioner Maridur V. Rosario said that the private sector’s input will contribute to the “development of effective and well-informed strategies for upgrading our tax system.”
BIR Director Beverly S. Milo said the partnership will integrate the business organizations’ representatives into a working group where their input will also be solicited in the drafting of BIR issuances.
“Initially, the groups will submit their position papers and we will discuss it in future meetings … (For instance), Philexport’s interest is in value-added tax (VAT) zero-rating. So we’re asking for their position papers to see what improvements they want, what kind of help they need. We will collate those and see what we can do,” Mr. Lumagui added.
“This will increase the chances of attaining our collection target,” he added.
This year, the BIR aims to collect P2.64 trillion, 13% higher than its actual collections of P2.34 trillion in 2022.
PCCI President George T. Barcelon added that a simpler tax structure will support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and help attract foreign direct investment.
“Streamlining… will cascade (the benefits) to people who are interested in establishing businesses here… (so everyone) can enjoy the ease of doing business,” he said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson