Senate

BIR Collected $898.9 Milion in 2022 Amid Staffing Challenges

Budget hearings resumed in the Senate on Thursday, as the 35th Legislature’s Committee on Budget, Finance and Appropriations met to receive testimony from the Bureau of Internal Revenues about current performance and budget requirements for the next fiscal year.  BIR Director Joel Lee explained that the agency was requesting 6 percent less money than it did last year, with a total proposed allocation of $13.8 million. Mr. Lee explained that almost all of the agency’s money is spent on staff. The fiscal year 2024 budget request is comprised almost entirely of personnel costs, $6,620,998 for personnel, $3,618,685 for related fringe benefits, for a total of $10,247,683," he explained. The rest of the funds will be put towards operational costs including rent, maintenance, and professional services, among others.Collections are up, Mr. Lee announced proudly. "I'm happy to state that we continue to record revenue collections despite the many challenges faced over the last four and a half y...