BIR-LC/IN office tops Region I collection in 2020

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Laoag City—The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Laoag City/Ilocos Norte district office emerged the on top of collection of taxes for CY 2020 in the entire Region I, revenue district officer Ramos Navarro announced.

Despite of the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March of last year, the local BIR here never stopped in the collection of taxes, though a series of extensions were also granted to taxpayers.

Upon assuming as the new RDO in February last year, Navarro was immediately challenged as the January 2020 Laoag City-Ilocos Norte district office was recorded as number one in collection efficiency and it lasted until December 2020.

Due to a good response, Laoag City-Ilocos Norte was again number one this January 2021, with Ramos hoping it will continue for the rest of the following months.

However, Navarro expected a little problem that may arise because the annual income tax return to be filed this year will be from March 16, 2020 until the present which is during the pandemic lockdown period.

“So, we are not expecting too much kasi affected yung mga negosyo hindi lang Ilocos Norte kundi buong bansa though there are some na hindi masyadong affected pero generally, about 95 percent ay affected,” Navarro disclosed.         

He added the collection goals which pertains to the performance of every district office continue to increase yearly, and the previous goal becomes higher every year.  

“Hindi pa nangyari na ang goal ng BIR sa sumunod na taon ay mas mababa sa dati but that is understandable kasi ang pangangailngan ng ating gobyerno sa funding ay lumalaki kasi lumalaki din ang population na kung saan nangangailangan din ng bagong pondo e 80 percent ng national budget o sa general appropriations act (GAA) comes from the BIR,” Navarro who is in his 30^th year of service in BIR, said.

This is the reason Navarro appealed to all the taxpayers to pay their annual income tax returns on or before April 15, 2021 to avoid surcharges.

He stated further that the taxes that are being paid also go back to the people including the internal revenue allotment (IRA) share of every LGU. 

Meanwhile, the local BIR district office will hold a poster-making contest open to Ilocos Norte residents 18-25 years old.

Only the first 10 registrants will be allowed to participate. Registration starts on March 8-19 and all artworks will be done on-the-spot and should be completed in three hours. The theme will be announced on the date of competition.

The event will take place at the BIR conference room on March 25, 2021 at 9:00 am and all participants will undergo antigen test for free.

The entries will be judged based on: relevance to the theme (40%), creativity and presentation (40%), and originality (20%).

The awarding will be on March 26, 2021. The top three winners will receive certificates, medals and cash prizes. Consolation prizes and certificates will be given to non-winners.