BIR tops April target despite tax deadline extension

The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected PHP 422.378 billion in gross revenues in April 2026, exceeding its monthly target despite the extension of the 2025 Annual Income Tax Return filing deadline.

The BIR said the April collection surpassed the month’s goal by PHP 12.776 billion, or 3.12%, based on preliminary data as of May 13, 2026.

The agency said last month’s gross revenues also increased by PHP 551.11 million, or 0.13%, compared with the same month in 2025.

The collection performance came even after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the deadline for filing 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns moved from April 15 to May 15, 2026, giving taxpayers more time to file and submit required documents without penalties.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza attributed the April result to intensified tax campaign efforts by the National Office, Revenue Regions, Revenue District Offices, and the Large Taxpayer Service in recent months.

He said those efforts helped encourage early and voluntary compliance among taxpayers.

“Even with the extension of the Annual Income Tax Return filing deadline, the BIR sustained solid collection performance in April, reflecting the impact of higher taxpayer confidence, better digital services, and continuing reforms under the BIR DARES reform agenda,” he said.

From January to April 2026, the BIR recorded total gross collections of PHP 1.155 trillion.

The four-month total was PHP 9.631 billion, or 0.84%, higher than the agency’s target for the period.

Compared with the same period in 2025, BIR collections from January to April 2026 increased by PHP 39.972 billion, reflecting 3.58% year-on-year growth.

Mendoza said the agency’s first four-month performance showed that the BIR remained on track to meet its revenue goal for the year while continuing to improve taxpayer service.

He said the bureau was also optimistic that May collections would be positive, with the remaining 2025 annual income tax payments due in the middle of the month.

“We remind taxpayers who availed of the extension to file their Annual Income Tax Returns and pay the corresponding taxes due by May 15, 2026. They should use the remaining time to complete their requirements properly and avoid the rush on the last day,” he said.

The BIR’s Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 30-2026 implemented the extension of the filing and payment deadline for 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns to May 15, 2026, including the submission of required attachments.