MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday admitted that with only five months left in 2024, achieving its P3 trillion tax collection target would be challenging.

Its target for this year is higher than the record-high tax collection of P2.5 trillion in 2023.

But BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the bureau remains up for the challenge.

He is particularly banking on collections from online sellers earning more than half a million annually, which were recently subjected to a 1-percent withholding tax, to attain the bureau’s goal.

“Medyo challenging pa rin, ano? Kaya naman patuloy pa rin ang ating pinaigting na mga activities para makuha ito, especially itong withholding tax on online transactions… We’re expecting that yung revenues natin dyan would be in the billions,” said Lumagui, during the 120th anniversary celebration of the BIR.

Lumagui said many high-earning online sellers continue to get away from paying taxes. But he said the BIR is working hard to go after them.

“While tumataas ang tax efficiency ng BIR, bakit hindi ganun kataas ang koleksyon? It's because ang daming nagshi-shift from traditional purchases doon sa mga online… Yung iba napakalalaki na talaga ng mga negosyo pero ayaw pa ring magrehistro,” he said.

“Patuloy ang pag-monitor natin dyan,” vowed Lumagui.

According to Lumagui, they are also not easing up on their campaigns against tax evaders, fake receipts, and the smuggling of vape and other tobacco products.

Another one of its strategies to raise revenues is the digitalization of its processes to promote ease of paying taxes.

“Nag-launch din tayo ng bagong BIR web portal para mas user-friendly. And sa mga darating na taon, marami rin tayong nilalatag na mga improvements sa digital transformationz. Ang ginagawa natin, pinapadali natin ang pagco-comply ng mga taxpayers,” added Lumagui.

NEW LOGO

Meanwhile, the BIR also unveiled a new logo— in line with the Marcos administration’s Bagong Pilipinas rebranding initiative.

The price tag: P150,000 which was equally divided among the three winners of a logo-design contest the BIR held a few months ago.

“Wala naman tayong ibang naging gastos dyan kundi yung pabuyang binigay natin doon sa tatlong nanalo ng ating pa-contest,” said Lumagui.

The tax chief also justified the logo redesign, saying the old one primarily displayed “limited and outdated industries”.  

The new logo, he said, better reflects the BIR’s vision, and how it hopes to be perceived by the public: a bureau of integrity, service, excellence, and patriotism.

Apart from the BIR, other government agencies that have undertaken rebranding efforts over the past two years are the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation with the controversial overhaul of its logo and the Department of Tourism with its slogan change.