Increased revenue collection under EVAT seen
Revenue District Officer Jona Ruth Alonte of Revenue District No. 74 of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) based here in this city is optimistic that the implementation of the new Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) will have a great impact in their tax collection efforts this year.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency, Alonte said with the strengthened EVAT implementation their target goal collection for the month of January was increased to 36 percent, from P162.5 million last year to P216.5 million this year and basing from their latest statistics they have already collected P229 million, exceeding their target for the month.
She also revealed that their target goal collection for 2006 has been increased by P1 billion that is from P2.4 billion last year to P3.4 billion.
"With the implementation of the Lateral Law we will implement appropriate strategies to enhance our tax collection efforts to make sure that no one in my district will be affected by the law', Alonte said.
R.A. 9335, the Lateral Attrition Law aims to improve the revenue collection performance of BIR and BoC by putting in place a system of rewards, incentives and sanctions through the creation of a rewards and incentives fund as well as revenue performance evaluation board. It took effect January 1 of this year.
Meanwhile, Alonte said the increase in their tax collection efficiency in January means business in this city has remained unaffected by the implementation of the expanded value added tax contrary, it has flourished.
With the implementation of the new EVAT the government would be able to provide more funds to the problems of: lack of classrooms, demand for better health and other social services facilities, and for the construction of priority infrastructure facilities needed to make the country's economy more competitive.
Alonte also cautioned businessmen not to take advantage of the situation by unjustifiably increasing the prices of their goods or merchandize.
Likewise, she urged the public to demand for a receipt every time they make a purchase.
"For goods you buy, please demand a receipt because this is one way that the BIR can monitor trade malprac tices," she said.
(PIA)