BIR collects P582M in back taxes from firms shut down temporarily

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it collected P582.5 million in the 11 months to November worth of taxes and fees owed by establishments it ordered temporarily closed.

In a statement Tuesday, the BIR the collections were generated by 196 establishments and represented taxes and fees in arrears, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel S.D. Guballa said.

He added that 103 complaints involving P4.96 billion worth of taxes are currently in the preliminary investigation stage.

The program shutting down businesses that owe taxes and fees is known as Oplan Kandado (padlock), run by the Department of Finance.

In 2019, the program generated P1.92 billion from 743 establishments.

Tax collections hit P2.059 trillion in the first 10 months. Revenue generated by the BIR dropped 10.4% to P1.596 trillion while Customs fell 15% to P448.6 billion. — Luz Wendy T. Noble