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DAHIL sa balanse at agresibong pamamaraan ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), partikular sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., inaani ngayon ng naturang ahensya ang mga positibong resulta lalo na ang mas mahusay na pagkolekta ng buwis.
Ito ang mariing pahayag ni former BIR Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres kung saan pinapurihan din ang tinatawag niyang “hard” and “soft” measures na ipinatutupad ni Lumagui.
“The BIR has been fast in implementing innovations in tax administration and taxpayer engagements,” sabi pa ng dating BIR head.
Tinukoy ni Tan-Torres ang mahigpit na ‘Run After Fake Transactions’ campaign ng BIR, na patungkol sa masigasig na pagsasampa ng kaukulang kaso laban sa mga lumalabag sa tax laws gayundin ang regular na pagsalakay sa mga warehouse at business establishment na hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis at pang law enforcement activities bilang silang ‘hard measures’ strategies ni Lumagui.
“Complementing these are Lumagui’s ‘soft strategies’ such as personally interacting with college students to introduce them early to learning about taxation, the formation of a multi-sectoral group consisting of private sector stakeholders and business groups that discusses regularly priority concerns and issues, introduction of new look BIR logo, expansion of e-services that facilitates the compliance of taxpayers, and the continued implementation of a customer satisfaction survey from taxpayers engaging with the BIR,” ayon pa dating BIR official.
Dahil sa mga estratehiyang ito ni Lumagui, sinabi ni Tan-Torres na nitong nakaraang buwan ng Mayo ay nakapagtala ang ₱1.111 trillion tax-collections (net of refunds), na higit sa target nitong ₱7.045 billion.
“This collection represents a 14.50 percent increase compared to April 2025. An outstanding performance for BIR and Commissioner Lumagui with his ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ approach in tax administration,” dagdag pa ng former business school dean.
Bukod sa pagiging dean ng University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, si Tan-Torres ay naging chairperson ng Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, tax partner ng Reyes Tacandong & Co. at SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. Isa rin siyang Certified Public Accountant at naging topnotcher ng May 1979 CPA Board Examination.
