QUEZON CITY -- Aligned with its Digital Transformation (DX) Program, the Bureau of Internal Revenue launched its people-centric campaign titled Taxpayer FIRST—Fast, Innovative, Reliable, Secure, and Technology-driven developments for better taxpayer services during the virtual event held via Zoom and Facebook live last December 10, 2021.

In collaboration with banking institutions and long-time development partner, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the BIR officially announced during the said event its wider and better electronic payment (ePayment) channels accessible to taxpayers 24/7.

“Today’s launch is a critical part of BIR’s Phase 1 implementation of the DX Roadmap 2020-2030 as this will continue to strengthen the foundations of the digital transformation program within BIR,” Commissioner Caesar Dulay said.

In his keynote address, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said that the government’s move to “digitalize [its] processes early on helped [the country] respond to the difficulties presented by the global health emergency.”  He adds that “the pandemic forced the government to scale up spending to protect lives and preserve the health of [the] people.” Hence, the need to further improve the efficiency in tax collection by making services more accessible online, reducing external cost and time spent just to comply with tax obligations amid physical limitations due to the pandemic.

“Through the difficult months, our two main revenue agencies continued to function effectively, bringing the revenue flows to our government direly needed,” Sec. Dominguez added referring to the BIR and the Bureau of Customs.

Sec. Dominguez highlighted that in 2020 “90% of the total annual income tax returns were filed electronically” and it grew by “almost 100% this year.” The Finance Secretary also underscored that from 1.9 million ePayment transactions in 2015, ePayment utilization grew by 110% or about 4 million ePayment transactions in 2020.

Also in the said event, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamine E. Diokno shared the BSP’s digital payments transformation programs that support the BIR’s initiatives to digitalize tax payments in the country. “…The BSP has been actively supporting the interagency activities of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance to develop electronic invoicing and electronic official receipt systems. The BSP recognizes that these digital innovations are key enablers to enhance the efficiency of tax administration, improve revenue collection and cash management systems while also contributing to the further widening of payments digitalization in the country,” the Governor said.   

Since 2015, BIR had launched a number of ePayment channels through their ePay services with LandBank’s Link.Biz.Portal, DBP Paytax Online, and electronic wallets such as GCash and PayMaya. During its Taxpayer FIRST launching activity, BIR, in partnership with USAID, introduced its latest developments in expanding ePayment services as an outcome of its continued collaborative efforts with other partner financial institutions such as the Union Bank of the Philippines (including INSTAPAY member banks), Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC) and its member banks, and the MYEG.

A major highlight of the event was the virtual ceremonial pledge of multistakeholder partners supporting BIR’s modernization and ePayment expansion efforts. It was participated in by BIR Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay, DOF Asec Dakila Elteen M. Napao, Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Deputy Treasurer Eduardo Anthony G. Mariño, USAID/Philippines Acting Mission Director Atty. Sean Callahan,  LandBank of the Philippines SVP Randolph Montesa, Development Bank of the Philippines SVP Owen Maramag, UnionBank EVP Antonino Fajardo, RCBC EVP Lito Villanueva, PCHC President Noel Barcena, Robinsons Bank President Efren Antonio Sarte, PSBank President Jose Vicente Alde, PayMaya CEO Orlando Vea, MYEG President Ann Saldana, GCash AVP Cathlyn Pavia, BancNet representative Mr. John Ong and USAID DELIVER COR Shimz Battung and COP Greg Robins.

Also took part in the event were Former BIR Deputy Commissioner and now CTA Associate Justice Lanee David, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa, Assistant Commissioners Ma. Rosario Charo Curiba, Clavelina Nacar, Anian Salazar, Teresita Angeles, Ma. Luisa Belen and other BIR key officials.

BIR targets to increase ePayment transactions by 50% in 2022 as modernization efforts aim to improve voluntary compliance.

Putting taxpayers first through expanded ePayment channels, BIR estimates around P 150 million to about P 200 million savings in transaction fees with increased ePayment utilization.

For more information about BIR’s ePayment services, visit the BIR website at www.bir.gov.ph. (BIR)