The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is set to initiate reforms designed to eliminate delays in tax dealings. In a meeting last July 27, BIR deputy commissioner Nelson Apse said they are aiming to speed up tax transactions in order to encourage taxpayers to pay.
The meeting came after BIR commissioner Caesar Dulay gave orders to reduce the processing time for the issuance of tax documents. Dulay ordered a one-day processing for tax clearances and five days for the certificate authorizing registration.
The planned reforms include easier business application from printing receipts to registration of books and the use of point-of-sale or POS machines.
Finance Secretary Carlo Dominguez agreed with the proposed reforms claiming that improving current tax payment methods will raise revenue since people will find it easier to fulfill their tax obligations.
Dominguez said BIR offices should also be more accommodating and welcoming. “Why punish our clients when they have come to pay?,” said Dominguez in his speech during BIR’s 112th anniversary last Monday.
As of June 2016, the agency’s collection has gone up by 11 percent compared to last year’s record.
