CANDAHUG, PALO, Leyte, March 20 – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region (RR) No. 14 officially launched Monday its 2015 Tax Campaign at the jam-packed Multi-Purpose Building of the regional office in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.
In his message, regional director Diosdado R. Medoza said that “after Yolanda, the BIR in the region has recovered and has set tax collection and administration on a higher plane.”
He said also that in the last three months of 2014, our Revenue Region consistently surpassed its collection in collection target by 28.39% or roughly Php307.8M.” He informed everyone that in the 1st Quarter of 2015, with a very small deficit in January 2015, the region had surpassed its collection target in February with an increase of 4.58% or P19.03 million.
The BIR has a collection goal of P1.704 trillion for 2015 compared to P1.456 trillion in 2014.
Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue (DCIR) Nelson M. Aspe, speaking through a prepared message read by Assistant Regional Director Nasser A. Tangcor, thanked and congratulated the taxpayers and the men and women of RR No. 14, Tacloban City for their support and contribution to the region’s 2014 collection performance. He took the opportunity to remind the region’s taxpayers of the forthcoming April 15, 2015 Income Tax filing deadline, saying that they should start filing their tax returns now, and not on the last day.
DCIR Aspe emphasized that there will be no extension of the said deadline. The anticipated summer brownouts will not be valid grounds for the extension of the deadline or for the abatement of penalties for late filing. He encouraged taxpayers to file their returns electronically. He warned that those required by the BIR (e.g. TAMP Taxpayers and NO Payment Returns Filers) to file their returns online but who opt to file manually shall be (penalized and be) the first priority for audit. He concluded by asking all stakeholders to help raise the P1.704 billion target of the BIR to sustain the country’s economic growth and maintain its status as one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
The 2015 tax campaign theme “ANGAT PA, PINAS” calls for greater cooperation among Filipinos to pay their taxes as their contribution to nation-building. The campaign logo takes cues from the colors of the Philippine Flag, using arrows that show an upward movement to denote greater progress and positive change for the country. The campaign jingle provides a battle cry for Filipinos to work for a better tomorrow.
The 2015 BIR Eastern Visayas Tax Campaign was officially launched through a dance interpretation of the “ANGAT PA, PINAS” video jingle by the SAMLEYAW Dance Company. The St. Paul Chorale sang the opening prayer and the Philippine National Anthem with their angelic voices.
The kickoff was attended by revenue officials and personnel, local government officials, tax practitioners, professionals, media partners, business, professional and academic organizations, and students from Revenue District Office Nos. 85 (Catarman, Northern Samar), 86 (Borongan City, Eastern Samar), 87 (Catbalogan, Samar), 88 (Tacloban City), 89 (Ormoc City), and 90 (Maasin City). (BIR-8/PIA-8
