Tax bureau details reform initiatives

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) has identified initiatives to be included in a 2013-2016 reform plan aimed at improving the government’s tax administration system.

Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 29-2013, dated Oct. 25 but made public only last week, states that “a List of Reform Projects to be included in the Reform Master Plan was approved by the Reform Steering Committee on Sept. 26, 2013, after consultation and validation from concerned Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners.”

“The Reform Projects were derived from the BIR Strategic Plan for ... 2011-2016, Priority Projects for ... 2013 and proposed for 2014, BIR Framework for Information Systems and other recent emerging priorities...,” it adds.

Forty-four ongoing and proposed initiatives were identified.

For taxpayer services, among the ongoing projects are the establishment of eLounges in each revenue district office, a public awareness campaign, expansion of International Organization of Standardization (ISO) certification to other revenue districts and the redesign of some of the bureau’s forms.

Another proposed project is an online accreditation system for importers and brokers.

For registration, the BIR is working on the taxpayer information update program. It is likewise proposing a sales data controller system, which will be piloted in gas stations.

Ongoing projects concerning filing and payment include the centralization of document processing to regional offices, implementation of a security tax stamp system for cigarettes and an online system for transfer tax transactions.

Targeted for rollout is a system for the automated computation of the internal revenue allotment of local government units as well as tax payments via credit cards.

The bureau also wants to expand the ongoing computerization of its value-added tax and comprehensive audit programs.

For collection enforcement, among the proposed projects are the development of systems for the management of forfeited assets and the online submission and processing of tax clearances for bidding purposes.

The bureau is likewise expanding its own internal support programs to make processes more efficient via the development of a workflow management system and an ongoing overhaul of its electronic tax information system.

The BIR, the government’s main revenue agency, took in P1.12 trillion as of November, up 15.54% from the same period last year and surpassing the full 2012 total of P1.058 trillion. The amount, however, was short of the 11-month goal of P1.16 trillion.

It must now collect P133 billion in December to meet its full-year target of P1.253 trillion. -- Bettina Faye V. Roc

source:  Businessworld