Noy cites record tax collection

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his sixth and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the Joint Session of the 16th Congress at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives Complex in Constitution Hills, Quezon City on Monday (July 27, 2015).
(Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — President Aquino boasted the tax collection records under his administration during the State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Aquino noted how the amount of taxes doubled as compared to the records during the term of detained former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“When we stepped in, the highest collection on record was in 2008, at P778.6 billion…We surpassed this by leaps and bounds,” Aquino said in his sixth and last State of the Nation Address late Monday afternoon.

Aquino cited how tax revenues generated by the Bureau of Internal Revenue reached P1.06 trillion in 2012.

It was the first time that the bureau has breached its P1 trillion mark.

This year the government is aiming to collect up to P1.5 trillion.

“We only needed five years to match, surpass and almost double our predecessor’s record high — and we did this without imposing new taxes, as promised, apart from sin tax reform,” he said.

Aquino also gave credit to BIR Commissioner Kim Henares for the record tax collections.

“I believe that Commissioner Henares is a kind person, but those against whom she filed cases might have a different opinion. Commissioner Henares spared no tax evader: 380 cases have already been filed against those who attempted to evade taxes. She also made the system for tax payment more efficient, and made clear to everyone his civic duty to contribute to the development of our country,” he said.