The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Eastern Visayas has successfully collected P40.19 million in delinquent taxes from last year, making it the top performer among 25 revenue regional offices nationwide in terms of tax arrears collection.
This record came from the payments collected from 129 delinquent taxpayers in Eastern Visayas, according to BIR Eastern Visayas regional office collection division chief Policarpo Tangile.
The region was recognized as the top performer nationwide after significantly exceeding the P9.3 million collection target from tax arrears in 2024.
A collectible tax is considered arrears if not paid by taxpayers within the prescribed due date.
The BIR field office here managed to collect unpaid taxes through the establishment of an accurate inventory and profile of delinquent accounts and the application of appropriate summary remedies, Tangile told media.
“Our high collection from delinquent taxpayers is a result of the concerted efforts of BIR personnel with the support of revenue district offices. We see to it that we monitor our personnel that handle delinquent accounts, and we have regular meetings with them,” he said.
Tangile said the regional office has been stepping up their collection of tax arrears as unpaid taxes stall delivery of government services.
The regional office earlier reported that national tax collection in Eastern Visayas reached P15.78 billion in 2024, surpassing its P15.34 billion goal and exceeding its P13.15 billion collection in 2023.
Eastern Visayas ranks fourth among the 22 revenue regional offices in terms of tax collection performance last year.
Higher revenue collection is buoyed by the implementation of several infrastructure projects in the region last year, at least 53 percent of which are government projects.
As of the end of 2024, the region has 493,589 taxpayers, with about 17,985 classified as non-individual taxpayers or corporations, partnerships, joint stock companies, joint accounts, associations, or joint ventures.
(With report from PNA)
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