The order was obviously aimed at preventing BIR officers and employees from having close contact with taxpayers, especially those who are the subject of audits, to avoid suspicions that the BIR officers may be accepting gifts.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares signed Revenue Memorandum Circular 58-2011, which states that no field audit shall be made until January 6 in view of the monthlong celebration of the Christmas season.

“No field audit, field operations, or any form of business visitation in execution of Letters of Authority/Audit Notices, Letter Notices, or Mission Orders should be conducted,” the circular stated. The order took effect on December 19.

During the suspension of audit and other field operations, examiners and investigators were ordered “to make use of such period to do office work on their cases and complete the report on those with already completed field work.”

“However, service of assessment notices, warrants and seizure notices should still be affected,” the circular said.

But despite the suspension of various audits, revenue officers and employees are still under orders to meet the agency’s P940-billion full-year collection goal.

“Most important, all efforts should be directed at ensuring maximum collection in the remaining days of the year,” Henares said.

As of November, the BIR generated P849.51 billion in total collections for the 11-month period.

For the agency to meet its full-year target, the BIR has to collect P90.48 billion in December.