Lumagui resumes BIR field audits
The newly-minted chief of the Bureau of the Internal Revenue (BIR) has ordered the resumption of audit and mission order issuances to run after suspected tax evaders.
In a revenue memorandum circular dated Nov. 21, 2022, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. lifted the suspension of field audits to carry out the agency’s mandate to collect taxes.
“The suspension on all field operations and other field operations of the Bureau ordered in Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 77-2022 dated May 30, 2022 is hereby LIFTED effective immediately,” the memorandum read.
“All field audit, field operations, or any form of business visitation in execution of Letters of Authority/Audit Notices (LOAs) or Mission Orders (MOs) can be already conducted and new Letters of Authority/Mission Orders can be further issued,” it added.
Lumagui, however, reminded BIR personnel to strictly comply with the existing applicable rules and regulations of the bureau on the issuance and implementation of LOAs and MOs.
“All revenue issuances or portions thereof which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly,” Lumagui said.
“All internal revenue officials and employees are hereby enjoined to give this Circular as wide a publicity as possible,” he added.
To recall, the BIR suspended last May 30 all field audits and operations related to examining and verifying taxpayers’ books of accounts, records, as well as other transactions.
For this reason, the BIR had stopped issuing new mission orders as well as letters of authority or audit notices.
President Marcos appointed Lumagui last Nov. 15 as chief of the BIR, replacing former Commissioner Lilia Guillermo.
Prior to his appointment, Lumagui was the BIR deputy commissioner for operations.
For 2022, the BIR is tasked to collect P2.438 trillion.
As of September, the BIR, which contributes about two-thirds to government coffers, collected P1.732 trillion, equivalent to 71 percent of its full-year target.
The BIR needs to raise P706 billion from October to December to meet its goal.