Drive vs tax evading professionals on

TAKING its cue from the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino, the Bureau of Internal Revenue vowed to go after doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals who are not paying the right income taxes.

The BIR is now collecting pertinent data from various agencies such as the Professional Regulation Commission which exercises supervision over all professionals such as accountants, nurses, teachers, engineers, among others.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Celia C. King said aside from running after big time tax evaders, the agency will also go after professionals who under declare their income.

The President said in his SONA that some professionals are not paying the right income tax by declaring low incomes.           

“Kumukuha kami ng datos mula sa different government agencies tulad ng Professional Regulation Commission where we get the total number of lawyers, doctors, CPAs and other professionals at ito ang gagawin naming basehan sa mga taxpayers na nakaregister sa amin,” King told a forum.

The BIR hopes to increase collections by going after professionals especially doctors and lawyers who do not declare their real income since they do not issue receipts to their clients.

The BIR reported that collections indicated by 13.5 percent in the first half of 2011 compared to the same period last year.

Kim said the agency reported a P458 billion tax revenue collection from January to June. However, the bureau is still 0.5 percent short of its targeted tax collection for the first semester of the year. Collection performance is rated through revenues from BIR and non-BIR operations.

“As far as our collections from BIR operations are concerned, nakuha po ang goal ng BIR. Nagkulang lang kami ng kaunti sa collection from non-BIR operations,” King said.