The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) collected ₱2.003 trillion in the first seven months of the year, surpassing its target for the period as stronger taxpayer compliance and administrative reforms boosted government revenue.

In a statement, BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said that total tax receipts from January to July exceeded the agency’s ₱1.99 trillion benchmark by 0.68 percent.

The seven-month collection rose ₱102.60 billion, or 5.4 percent, compared with the same period a year earlier.

The performance puts the government’s principal tax-collecting agency on steady footing toward its annual revenue obligations.

Mendoza said the bureau has secured roughly 60 percent of its full-year collection target for 2026, driven by broader compliance across key operational branches, including Revenue Regions, Revenue District Offices, and the Large Taxpayers Service.

“We remain guided by the President’s directive to make government services more accessible to taxpayers, and by Secretary Frederick Go’s direction to make tax administration fairer and more efficient for businesses and investors,” Mendoza said.

Revenue momentum accelerated in July, driven by higher gross collections that outpaced monthly projections. Gross receipts for the month totaled ₱358.44 billion, beating the ₱336.07 billion target by ₱22.37 billion, or 6.66 percent. Compared with July 2025, collections expanded by ₱19.41 billion, marking a 5.73 percent year-on-year growth rate.

“These results show that better taxpayer service, clearer rules, and effective enforcement can support stronger compliance and collection,” Mendoza said.

The tax agency attributes the sustained revenue gains to its five-point reform agenda, designated as BIR DARES.

The framework focuses on simplifying tax codes and filing procedures, expanding digital service portals, enhancing frontline taxpayer assistance, bolstering audit mechanisms, and taking direct enforcement action against intentional noncompliance. Mendoza said the policy structure is crucial to preserving the state’s tax base while smoothing compliance friction for legitimate businesses.

“We will continue helping taxpayers comply correctly and on time, while making sure that taxes properly due are collected fairly and efficiently,” Mendoza said.