The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with business groups, chambers of commerce and association of tax professionals for a more efficient tax collection and administration.

The MOA was signed by the BIR, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP), Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry (ACPACI), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) and joint foreign chambers.

“We signed an agreement with multi-sectoral groups. We seek to get their comments, suggestions on how we can improve our services,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said on the sidelines of the MOA signing.

Lumagui said the private sector groups will also submit to BIR their position papers which include their request and recommendations on how to improve BIR’s services.

“What we want to achieve here in BIR is improved or excellent taxpayer service and we will be able to achieve this through consultations with the private sector,” he said. “We will get their comments in everything that we do. We want them to be our partners in nation-building and that is the goal of this multi-sectoral partnership.”

Lumagui said the partnership also encourages business groups to make sure that their members will pay the right taxes.

It will also help BIR attain its PHP2.63 trillion collection target for this year, he said.

“We expect that this will increase the chances of attaining our collection target,” he added. (PNA)