CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 9B which covers Laguna-Quezon-Marinduque (LaQueMar) has emphasized that meeting the country’s tax collection target is not solely the responsibility of the bureau, but a shared duty of every Filipino.
“The tax collection target this year is not just BIR’s goal, it’s every Filipino’s goal because we are all the ones paying the tax, and we in BIR are just making sure that the tax paid is correct, and we believe that we can get that target by all of us working together,” BIR LaQueMar director lawyer Michael Remir Macatangay said during the Usapang PIA radio program.
For 2025, BIR has been tasked with collecting ₱3.23 trillion in revenue, a significant goal aimed at supporting the government’s ongoing economic efforts.
The target is critical to funding a wide range of programs designed to drive national development, including essential infrastructure projects, social services, and key sectors like healthcare, education, and social welfare.
To make tax filing more accessible and efficient for taxpayers, the bureau has rolled out several digitization efforts under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 034-2025 which provides updated guidelines on the filing of annual income tax returns and payment of taxes for Calendar Year 2024, and reinforces the shift towards digital services.
In the same interview, BIR Revenue District Office 56 Calamba City Central Laguna head Kay Templonuevo said taxpayers are encouraged to use platforms such as the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS), eBIRForms, and other accredited online payment channels, which allow for more convenient, contactless transactions.
“The most important thing to note here in the revenue memorandum is that the income tax return shall be filed electronically to ensure timely compliance, accurate reporting, and improved efficiency in processing,” Templonuevo explained.
She added: “And the e-Lounge facility in our offices is also open for electronic filing by our taxpayers, as an added option to help ease their transactions.”
As the April 15 income tax deadline approaches, BIR reminds taxpayers to avoid last-minute filing to make sure that their returns are submitted on time, technical issues are minimized, and penalties for late filing are avoided. (AM/PIA-4A)
