THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said gross collections hit P198.755 billion in March, up 11.87% from a year earlier.
“Our March 2026 collection performance is encouraging, especially at this time of economic strain,” BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We at the BIR heed the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go to help ensure that the government has steady revenues to fund essential services and provide timely support, especially to those who need it most,” he added.
In March, the BIR also released P11.368 billion in tax refunds, more than five times the amount released in March 2025.
“As a result, net collection for the month reached P187.387 billion, up 6.68% year on year. While the higher level of refunds tempered net collection growth, it also meant more funds were returned to taxpayers and businesses during the ongoing energy crisis,” the BIR said.
For 2026, the BIR’s revenue collection target set in the 2026 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing was P3.46 trillion, of which P357.82 billion is expected to come from excise taxes. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
