• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The tax collection target of the BIR Revenue District Office (RDO) 77 this year could likely increase by 23 percent, or up to P9.471 billion, after it collected P7.7 billion in 2023.
Revenue District Officer Linda Baunto told the Negros NOW Daily March 11 that she is thankful for the support and cooperation of taxpayers in the district for the prompt payment of correct taxes, noting that RDO77 logged a 95 percent compliance.
RDO77 has jurisdiction over taxpayers in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, and Silay, and the towns of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
Baunto and officials from the BIR Revenue Region (RR) No. 12, headed by regional director Mary Jane Asuncion, led the tax campaign kickoff March 11 at SM City Bacolod activity center, with this year’s tax campaign theme, “Sa Tamang Buwis, Pag-asenso’y Mabilis”.
Asuncion said that, of the more than P3 trillion collection target nationwide this year, RR12 has about P18 billion target.
“The region’s target might even be increased anytime, and your cooperation as partners in nation-building, especially our taxpayers present here today, will make the great task of collecting lighter,” Asuncion said at the kickoff.
RR12 is comprised of RDO77, RDO76, covering the cities of Cadiz, Escalante, Sagay, San Carlos, and Victorias as well as the towns of Calatrava, E.B. Magalona, Manapla, and Toboso;
RDO78 covering Bago, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sipalay, Binalbagan, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid; and RDO79, comprised of the whole provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Meanwhile, the RDO77 recognized the local government units under its jurisdiction, as well as the individual and corporation top taxpayers, and partner-agencies, during the kickoff.
Most compliant individual taxpayers Alvin Yu, Edgar Tan Sy, Ma. Teresa Taganile, Patricia Kilayko, Stephen John Hinojales, and Michael Anthony Valderrama each received a plaque of appreciation.
The most compliant corporation taxpayers, on the other hand, are the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc., Supreme ABF Construction and Supply Co., Silver Dragon Construction Lumber and Glass Supply, ESJ and Sons Construction, and Dungganon Bank.
The top national government agency (NGA) awardees include the Department of Public Works and Highways Bacolod and Talisay district offices, and the Department of Education divisions of Bacolod and Negros Occidental.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Amity Emergency Services Foundation Inc., Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Service were also recognized as BIR partners.
The BIR reminds taxpayers that deadline for the filing of income tax return (ITR) is on April 15 this year.
RDO77 partners and LGU representatives also signed the pledge of support and commitment to this year’s tax campaign program to heighten tax consciousness and ensure compliance, to sustain the growth in revenue collection, and to pay the correct taxes. | CGC
