Palace welcomes PH highest tax effort in 11 years

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the preliminary data of the Department of Finance (DOF) which showed that the country’s tax collections to gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 14.3 percent in 2017.

Roque, in a press briefing in Tabuk, Kalinga, said that this figure is an increase of 0.6 percentage point from 2016.

He, meanwhile, thanked the Filipino taxpayers and congratulated the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for its improved efficiency in revenue-collecting.

“We thank the Filipino taxpayers for helping the government achieve its highest tax effort in 11 years,” Roque said.

“Congratulations, too, to the hardworking officers and employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue,” he added.

Roque also assured taxpayers that the government would use the taxes they paid to fund the priority programs under the Duterte administration such as education, health and housing and infrastructure.

“Makakaasa kayo na ang buwis na ibinayad ninyo ay isasauli namin sa taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng mas pinaigting na batayang serbisyong panlipunan (I can assure you that the taxes you pay will be returned to you through stronger public service),” Roque said.

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Happy with figures

Last month, BIR announced that its tax collection effort has improved to 11.26 percent last year from an average of 10.5 to 10.9 percent in the last five years.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay said the bureau did some “last two minutes” moves last November and December as it urged taxpayers to be responsible on their dues.

“We sought out the help of and we were very, very happy that they responded that’s why the figures are there,” Dulay said.

“We have a very good tax ratio and we have a very good growth rate for 2017,” he added.

Last year, the agency collected PHP1.779 trillion, 97.27 percent of its PHP1.829 trillion goal. Revenues grew by 12.92 percent, higher than the PHP1.576 trillion it collection in 2016.

This year, BIR has been tasked to collect PHP2.039 trillion. (PNA)