March tax collections climb to ₱198.76B

₱11.3B in tax refunds released, over 5x last year’s level.

March collections rose to ₱198.76 billion, up 11.87% year-on-year, pointing to stronger tax intake even as businesses and households deal with rising costs and tighter budgets. The increase suggests economic activity remains steady enough to keep revenues growing despite ongoing pressures.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue said the higher collections help sustain government spending on public services and support programs at a time when demand for assistance remains elevated across sectors.

The refund revolution

At the same time, ₱11.368 billion in tax refunds were released in March, more than five times last year’s level, returning a significant amount of cash to taxpayers and businesses and easing short-term financial strain.

Net collections still reached ₱187.39 billion, up 6.68% from a year ago, showing that overall revenue growth held even as more funds were handed back.

Taken together, the numbers show more money flowing in and out of the system at the same time, with faster refunds helping businesses stay liquid while stronger collections mean taxpayers continue to shoulder rising obligations.