At least two senators have raised concerns over the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Internal Revenue Integrated System (IRIS), which they said is reportedly empty—hindering efforts to verify tax assessments and payments.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson flagged the issue during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged corruption within the BIR on December 11.
Lacson said he received reports that the IRIS, designed as a centralized digital repository of taxpayer information, contains no usable data.
“Bakit walang laman? Sinasadya ba iyan? Para wala tayong mabalikan na records?” he asked.
Lacson noted that the absence of information makes it difficult to reconcile preliminary and final tax assessments with actual payments.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza disputed claims that the database was empty but acknowledged it was not consistently updated.
“Kaya nga yun yung utos natin… To update the information,” he said.
Senator Erwin Tulfo backed Lacson’s concerns, citing a source within the BIR.
“According to my source sa BIR, an employee, nakakita yung gray area ‘yan nga po na walang laman ‘yung sinasabi niyong IRIS,” he said, warning that the lack of data makes it impossible for investigators to check ‘how much is paid to the government, how much was assessed, how little went to the government.’
Former BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, who began IRIS implementation, said accountability lies with field officers.
“Actually because you did not fill it up, dapat hindi nakakaissue ng bagong [letter of authority],” she added.