The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) collected more than P2 trillion in the first seven months of 2026, exceeding its target for the period as stronger taxpayer compliance and sustained enforcement efforts helped lift government revenues.
BIR collections from January to July reached P2.003 trillion, surpassing the agency’s P1.990-trillion goal by P13.53 billion, or 0.68 percent, according to the bureau.
The seven-month tally was also P102.60-billion higher than the amount collected in the same period a year earlier, representing a 5.4-percent year-on-year increase.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the bureau has already generated about 60% of its full-year collection target for 2026, which he attributed to improving taxpayer compliance and continued collection efforts by the agency’s revenue regions, revenue district offices and 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,” the BIR chief said.
The agency’s July performance provided an additional boost to its year-to-date results. Gross collections for the month reached P358.44 billion, exceeding the P336.07-billion target by P22.37 billion, or 6.66 percent.
July collections were also P19.41-billion higher than the same month last year, representing a 5.73% year-on-year increase.
Mendoza said the latest figures demonstrate the role of taxpayer service, clearer regulations and effective enforcement in improving compliance.
“These results show that better taxpayer service, clearer rules, and effective enforcement can support stronger compliance and collection,” he said.
The BIR said its collection performance is being supported by its BIR DARES five-point reform agenda, which focuses on simplifying tax rules and procedures, expanding digital services, improving taxpayer assistance, strengthening audit safeguards and enforcing tax laws against deliberate noncompliance.
The reforms form part of the bureau’s broader effort to improve voluntary compliance while protecting the government’s revenue base. The agency is also seeking to make tax administration more efficient and predictable for taxpayers, particularly businesses and investors.
“We will continue helping taxpayers comply correctly and on time, while making sure that taxes properly due are collected fairly and efficiently,” Mendoza added.
With collections already reaching roughly three-fifths of the annual target by July, the BIR enters the second half of the year with revenue performance ahead of its interim goal. Maintaining that pace through the remaining months will be key to meeting its full-year target while advancing its efforts to improve tax administration and compliance.