The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it surpassed its seven-month collection goal amid enhanced taxpayer compliance and intensified enforcement.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BIR said it collected PHP2.003 trillion from January to July, beating its PHP1.990 trillion revenue goal by PHP13.53 billion.

The collection during the period was also higher by 5.4 percent compared to last year.

For July alone, collections reached PHP358.44 billion, surpassing the monthly target by PHP22.37 billion. It was also PHP19.41 billion higher than the collections last year.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said the agency has already collected about 60 percent of its full-year collection target for 2026, reflecting improving taxpayer compliance and the sustained collection efforts of the Revenue Regions, Revenue District Offices, and the Large Taxpayers Service.

“We remain guided by the President’s directive to make government services more accessible to taxpayers, and by (Finance) Secretary Frederick Go’s direction to make tax administration fairer and more efficient for businesses and investors,” he said.

“These results show that better taxpayer service, clearer rules, and effective enforcement can support stronger compliance and collection.”

Under its five-point reform agenda, BIR DARES, the bureau continues to simplify tax rules and processes, expand digital services, improve taxpayer assistance, and strengthen audit safeguards to improve compliance while protecting the government’s revenue base.

DARES stands for Digital and Data Transformation, Audit Reform and Accountability, Revenue Collection and Revenue Base Protection, Employee Empowerment and Welfare Protection, Service Excellence and Stakeholder Engagement.

“We will continue helping taxpayers comply correctly and on time, while making sure that taxes properly due are collected fairly and efficiently,” Mendoza said. (PNA)