The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced Friday, July 8, that it has temporarily shelved its digitalize audit program which is supposed to minimize corruption in the service.
BIR Commissioner Lilia C. Guillermo told field officials in a virtual Zoom meeting that the online project will be implemented when the guideline is finalized.
The paperless audit scheme is a priority project of the BIR to enhance collection and discourage corruption.
The United States, Singapore and other developed countries used the contactless assessment system to facilitate the collection of actual deficiency taxes.
The electronic-generated assessment informs via email the taxpayer about his deficiency taxes, matching sales and purchases and imports with his income/value-added tax declaration.
In return, the said taxpayer submits online his answer/protest together with supporting documents.
Presently, the BIR sends discrepancy notice to taxpayer via postal service, or serve the same by courier to his office or home address.
Insiders said that when tax examiners and taxpayers meet the deficiency, assessments are settled in many instances through under-the-table arrangement.