The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is expected to miss its ₱3.2 trillion tax collection target for 2025, but Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said the agency is aiming for a much higher ₱3.5 trillion goal in 2026.
Mendoza said the BIR is still finalizing December figures, but early data show collections fell short of the government’s full-year target despite a strong rebound toward the end of the year.
“We will collect around ₱3.1 billion. So as of yesterday, net of refund na yun. We already have collected ₱3 trillion and ₱100 billion. Natutuwa ako i-share sa inyo as of December naka-rebound tayo significantly. As of yesterday, nasa 7.5% na growth natin for December,” he said.
He explained that while initial December numbers were high, they were not enough to push total collections beyond the 2025 target.
Mendoza noted that the BIR met its targets in the early months of 2025, but collections slowed in the second half of the year due to reduced government spending linked to the flood control controversy.
“Beginning July to November, growth rate bumaba significantly to 3.1%,” he said.
Despite missing the goal, Mendoza emphasized that the estimated ₱3.1 trillion collection for 2025 is the highest recorded by the BIR in the past two decades.
For 2026, Mendoza said the tax collection target could reach around ₱3.5 trillion, pending official confirmation from the Development Budget Coordination Committee.
“For now, we are setting our goal on that na ₱3.58 trillion and that will be around 15.5% increase from our collection,” he added.
Mendoza said he remains confident that the BIR can meet the higher target next year as the agency further strengthens its tax collection initiatives.