The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported total collections of P279.135 billion in May 2026, marking a 14.15 percent increase from the same period last year and slightly surpassing its monthly target.
The figure is P34.61-billion higher than May 2025 collections and exceeded the bureau’s goal of P279.056 billion by P78.22 million, according to the agency.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza attributed the strong performance to improved taxpayer compliance and the extension of the tax filing season, which helped ease filing and payment pressures during ongoing energy-related disruptions.
He said the extension, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., allowed taxpayers more time to settle obligations while maintaining orderly compliance despite operational challenges in some areas.
From January to May 2026, total BIR collections reached P1.434 trillion, up 5.49 percent from the same period in 2025 and also exceeding the five-month target by P9.709 billion.
Mendoza credited the results to the combined efforts of revenue offices nationwide, including frontline personnel assisting taxpayers and back-end teams ensuring continued operations amid intermittent power and internet interruptions.
He also cited ongoing reforms under the BIR’s DARES (Digital and Data Transformation, Audit Reform and Accountability, Revenue Collection and Base Protection, Employee Empowerment and Welfare Promotion, and Service Excellence and Stakeholder Engagement) program, including the rollout of a taxpayer portal for large taxpayers, digital registration tools for online businesses, and simplified procedures for business closure and cancellation of registrations.
The agency also recently implemented measures supporting the new mining royalty regime under Republic Act No. 12253.
Mendoza said the results demonstrate that revenue growth can be sustained alongside modernization efforts, as the BIR continues to improve services, streamline processes, and strengthen enforcement to support government funding needs.