The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it exceeded the 2024 revenue target set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), marking the first time in 20 years that the agency met its goal.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. said the agency collected P2.848 trillion last year, despite the weaker-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.2 percent in the third quarter, slowing from the revised 6.4 percent growth posted in the second quarter and 6 percent a year earlier.
“The exact figures will be finalized by around mid-February, and by then, the collection figures will only increase past the DBCC target,” Lumagui said.
“Our dedication to good governance reforms, manifested by our shift to a taxpayer-oriented agency, has increased the voluntary compliance of taxpayers. This goes to show that if government agencies improve their services, processes, and programs, our countrymen will do the right thing and pay their proper share of taxes,” said Lumagui.
Since his appointment as BIR commissioner in 2022, Lumagui has garnered praise for his hands-on leadership, which has been crucial in strengthening the BIR’s commitment to good governance.
Under his leadership, the BIR achieved several notable milestones, including 100-percent nationwide ISO certification for various frontline processes, the Civil Service Commission’s program to institutionalize meritocracy and excellence in human resource management (CSC PRIME-HRM) maturity level II accreditation and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) seal of registration in the previous year.
Lumagui also instilled a culture within the BIR that is grounded on the four pillars of strong and assertive enforcement activities, excellent taxpayer service, integrity and professionalism within the institution and among its employees and a robust push for digitalization.
