THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) exceeded its collection target in April despite the extension of the annual income tax return (AITR) filing deadline, saying it remains on track to achieve this year’s revenue goal.
Tax chief Charlito Martin Mendoza said gross collections reached P422.378 billion in April 2026, exceeding the month’s goal by P12.776 billion or 3.12 percent. This is also higher than the P420.53 billion and P198.755 billion collection recorded a year and month earlier, respectively.
“Even with the extension of the annual income tax return filing deadline, the BIR sustained solid collection performance in April, reflecting the impact of higher taxpayer confidence, better digital services, and continuing reforms under the BIR Dares reform agenda,” Mendoza said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month ordered the extension of the filing deadline for 2025 annual income tax returns from April 15 to May 15 to give taxpayers more time to complete documentary requirements and file without penalties.
Mendoza said intensified collection activities by the BIR’s National Office, Revenue Regions, Revenue District Offices, and Large Taxpayer Service encouraged early and voluntary compliance among taxpayers.
For the first four months of the year, the agency recorded total gross collections of P1.155 trillion, exceeding the four-month goal by P9.631 billion or 0.84 percent. This is also higher than the P1.11 trillion recorded in the same period last year.
Mendoza said the latest figures indicate that revenue collections remain on track to meet the government’s full-year target despite challenges tied to the adjusted tax filing schedule.
He expressed optimism that collections in May would remain positive as taxpayers who availed themselves of the extension are expected to settle remaining annual income tax payments before the May 15 deadline.
“We remind taxpayers who availed of the extension to file their annual income tax returns and pay the corresponding taxes due by May 15, 2026. They should use the remaining time to complete their requirements properly and avoid the rush on the last day,” he said.
The bureau has been tasked to collect P3.579 trillion this year. Mendoza said that anticipated economic growth this year would boost revenues from income, value-added and excise taxes.
Digitalization and monitoring initiatives to prevent leakages are also expected to help boost revenues.
The BIR collected a total of P3.105 trillion last year, which exceeded the P3.101-trillion emerging collection target — an operational aim separate from the official goal of P3.232 trillion.
The result — still an improvement from 2024’s P2.83 trillion — was blamed on the suspension of audit operations late last year in the wake of extortion allegations against BIR personnel.
