BIR Ozamiz kicks off 2023 Tax Campaign

by Shaine Mae R. Nagtalon

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Revenue District Office (RDO) 100-Ozamiz City kicked off its 2023 Tax Campaign with the theme, "Tulong-tulong sa Pagbangon, Kapit Kamay sa Pag-ahon, Buwis na Wasto, Alay Para sa Pilipino,'' February 27, 2023, at Royal Garden Hotel, Ozamiz City.

The tax campaign aimed to remind the taxpayers of their tax obligations and to encourage them to file and pay their correct taxes before the deadline for filing on April 17, 2023.

“Ang tumong sa tax campaign as articulated by our President of the Republic of the Philippines and of course through our Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui is just the people to continue supporting the government, especially the BIR. In our campaign, every peso that you pay to the government according to the President, will be used as investment to improve the lives of every Filipino Citizen,” BIR-10 Assistant Regional Director Rufo B. Ranario shared.

Ranario appealed to taxpayers not only in Ozamiz but all over the country to file their income tax returns before the deadline. "The filing of income tax is fast approaching on April 17, 2023, but it will be good to file your income tax on time and not wait for the deadline," Ranario said.

Meanwhile, Revenue District officer Lawyer Ma. Jonelle S. Fauna reported the district's accomplishments for the calendar year 2022.

“We collected P1.5 billion against our assigned target of 1.455 billion. We have exceeded our target by 57.9 million or 4 percent. This is 248 million or 20 percent increase from our 2021 collections. We have other accomplishments too that includes the increase in the number of our active business taxpayers brought about by the registration of walk-in taxpayers and through our enforcement activities like the tax compliance verification drive or commonly known as tax mapping operations,” Fauna emphasized.

For the year 2023, BIR has several tax campaign activities lined up for the taxpayers such as seminars, webinars, dialogues and even distribution of some information materials to equip taxpayers with the information necessary to comply with the requirements of the BIR.

The BIR also has programs and projects designed to uncover noncompliant taxpayers and even prosecute those who have deliberately avoided compliance with these requirements.

BIR's digital transformation program such as online registration and update system, e-appointment system, and other electronics services are designed to make taxpayers compliance of the BIR requirements convenient and easy as the BIR rely on its security and efficiency.

The 2023 BIR tax campaign kickoff in Ozamiz was attended by revenue officials and personnel, local government units (LGUs), tax practitioners, professionals, media partners, businesses, and professional, and academic organizations.

A pledge of support to the campaign in the interest of nation-building was also conducted. Among those who voiced support were the Chairman of the Board-Ozamiz Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., Elvira T. Tan, President-Ozamiz Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc., Lung Fai Chan, President-Oroquieta City Chamber and Industry Inc., Mishel T. Sy, Association of Tax Practitioners of Misamis Occidental Raul Paul a. Licayan, and Businessman Davidson Y. Chiong.(SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)