Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. attended the 2nd General Membership Meeting of Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX). He delved on the recalibration of the BIR from a collection goal-driven agency to a service-oriented one before FINEX members last February 22, 2023 at the New World Hotel Makati.
“Kami ang dapat nagtutuon ng pansin sa inyo dahil kayo ultimately ang sineserbisyohan ng BIR and that is why our focus is really on the taxpayers. We are thinking of ways to reach out to the taxpayers and educate them,” said the barely three-month appointed commissioner, emphasizing that the BIR welcomes and values all comments, suggestions, and opinions from the public. He also believes that a well-informed taxpayer results in the increase in voluntary compliance in their tax obligations.
The Commissioner highlighted four areas of concern that the BIR will focus on: Excellent Taxpayer Service; Intensification of Enforcement Activities; Transparency and Integrity; and Digitalization and Automation of Processes. He also stressed that the BIR’s approach will now be centered to the taxpayers by expanding the ISO certification of all its offices to cover other services and further streamline all its processes.
In the said meeting, the commissioner described FINEX as the seedbed for international leadership and a platform of national advocacy for financial issues. He also believed that FINEX can be one of the BIR’s valued partner in its mandate of collecting taxes through just enforcement of tax laws for nation-building and uplifting the lives of the Filipinos.
The bureau according to Commissioner Lumagui expects a full collaboration with FINEX by working hand-in-hand with the BIR mainly focusing on the four areas of concern that the BIR plans to recalibrate. “In effect you are helping the government attain sustainable economic growth and development,” he added. “The collection goal of the BIR should be treated as the goal of FINEX and every Filipino, for it will ultimately redound to infrastructures that will uplift Filipino lives.”
The Commissioner ended his message with the BIR’s 2023 battle cry, “Tulong-Tulong sa Pagbangon, Kapit-Kamay sa Pag-ahon. Buwis na wasto, Alay para sa Pilipino”.
