The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) denied Frifay, Sept. 16, persistent reports of massive collection deficits for the first eight months of the year.
On the contrary, BIR Commissioner Lilia Catris Guillermo said a total of P1.559 trillion was garnered from January to August, net of tax refunds.
The BIR chief said the take was P170.168 billion, or more than 12 percent higher than the actual collection for the same period last year.
"The said collection represented more than 98 percent attainment of the bureau's emerging goal of P1.589 trillion for the said period," she added.
She said the bureau surpassed the collection target for the month of August by P9.7 billion, raising a total of almost P219 billion.
She said the amount was P42.8 billion, or 23 percent more than the actual collection for the same month last year.