BIR developing web-based program to curb tax leakages

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has committed to speed up the development of a web-based program to help plug tax leakages while improving taxpayer service and curbing corruption in the agency.

In a statement, Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay said the full deployment of the Internal Revenue Integrated System (IRIS) in all BIR offices nationwide would enable the agency to replace its 23-year old integrated tax system or ITS.

IRIS is a web-based system designed to serve as the BIR’s central tool and repository for processing of taxpayer information.

Dulay said the system would help the bureau improve its tax collection efforts, and at the same time prevent corruption in its ranks.

“Plugging the tax leakages and putting an end to corruption have been our top priorities. Our capabilities to do that will be strengthened with the full adoption of IRIS, coupled with the bureau’s other digitalization initiatives and various anti-corruption measures,” Dulay said.

“These shall be done expeditiously to raise more tax collections, especially now that the health crisis and the recent typhoons that severely hit many parts of the country have resulted in a huge emergency spending by the government,” he said.

This year, Dulay said the BIR was able to pilot launch three out of eight modules of the IRIS program despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The first component, called the taxpayer registration system (TRS), aims to facilitate the registration of taxpayers and the assignment of taxpayer identification numbers (TIN).

The collection, remittance and reconciliation (CRR) module, meanwhile enables revenue officers to view the taxes paid by taxpayers through various channels, as well as tax remittances made by authorized agent banks.

Lastly, the returns filing and processing (RFP) module allows revenue officers to access tax return information that are uploaded in the BIR’s eFPS and eBIR forms facilities.

“The said captured information shall be processed using the ‘system-based validation rules to ensure that the prescribed requirements and specifications are met, and can be used for tax audit and other intended purposes,” the BIR said.

Dulay said various activities were also conducted to prepare the remaining IRIS modules for implementation.

“With the ongoing rollout, we would like to seek for understanding of the taxpaying public for they might experience some inconveniences with our systems as we continue to explore innovative and efficient ways to improve our services,” Dulay said.