The tax effort of the country must be raised to 40 percent this year compared to the current 11 to 12 percent.

This is one of the challenges posed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to increase tax collection as the goal for 2011 is raised to P940 billion, Lucita Rodriguez, BIR assistant commissioner said at the recent tax campaign in Negros Occidental.

Rodriguez said tax effort is the ratio of the actual collection and the gross domestic product of the country. If the tax effort decreases, it means the collection is insufficient, she added.

Another challenge that BIR faces are tax evaders and it is now the right time to pay correct taxes, without any tax avoidance, she said.

The challenge to battle corruption is never ending but whether to be corrupt or not depends on the people, she added.

BIR will also develop new strategies to improve voluntary compliance, enhance enforcement efforts, and educate and help people on their responsibilities as taxpayers. However, they will still catch tax evaders, Rodriguez said.

Improving tax collection does not only depend on the taxpayers alone, but the bureau also has the duty to improve the capabilities of its personnel to be able to deliver the right service and provide new processes and systems to make things easier, she also said.

Other BIR programs are tax scout management that includes profiling, benchmarking, and tax mapping campaign.

Rodriguez also said they are required to post in their offices the various processes like business registrations, “Premyo sa Resibo,” and the Run After Tax Evaders, and the Oplan Kandado for faster procedures.

“We are looking into the organization and the rationalization plan is coming soon to hire new people because we want people to know the new rules and laws in the tax code,” Rodriguez said.

The application of strategic skills and the continuous trainings of BIR personnel are necessary to achieve better services, she added.*LTG

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