Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui on Tuesday expressed confidence that the agency would reach its PHP3.23-trillion collection target this year amid the strengthened drive to encourage taxpayers to pay their dues.

Citing preliminary figures for the first quarter of the year, Lumagui said revenues as of end-March reached PHP668.79 billion, or PHP3.2 million short of the PHP671.99-billion goal for the quarter.

Collections in the first three months of this year are higher than the PHP593-billion revenue from a year ago.

“For 2025, our target is PHP3.23 trillion. And we think that, again, based on the progress of our programs that we have already laid out, and also based on the progress of the first months from January to March, our collection is running well,” Lumagui told reporters in an interview during the last day of the tax filing for the year.

The BIR chief said income tax collections will play a major part in helping the bureau achieve its collection target.

BIR’s April 2025 collection target is PHP208 billion, and Lumagui said they expect around 1.4 million filers, both individuals and businesses, to fulfill their tax obligations.

He said digitalization of their processes and the introduction of online payment options are plus factors for the BIR.

Lumagui also said although there are those who still file manually, more taxpayers are now opting to use technology to make their tasks easier.

Those who failed to meet the deadline will be slapped with penalties such as the 12-percent interest, the corresponding surcharge of 25 percent, as well as compromise charge. (PNA)