MANILA–“Kahit holdapers kailangan mag-file ng Income Tax Return (ITR),” thus declared the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as it intensifies its campaign to run after tax cheats.

BIR Chief Kim S. Jacinto-Henares said the bureau will step up efforts to reach its tax collection target to help bankroll the programs and projects of the government.

“Pag nagnenegosyo kayo, whether nalulugi o hindi, dapat mag-file kayo ng ITR,” she said.

The BIR chief revealed that about 40 percent of the informal sectors in the country do not pay their taxes, and of the 60 percent who are paying, a great number of them are not paying the right amount of taxes.

“The law was conceived for everyone. Dapat lahat sumusunod sa,” she said, adding the bureau is now studying effective ways to make the underground economy formal. Part of it is by making the business permit processing more seamless.

On Thursday, BIR filed its 37th tax-evasion case against television personality and Brazilian model, Daiana Meneses. Meneses, according to the bureau, failed to settle a total of P983,658.07 in taxes, surcharges, and interest from years 2007 to 2009.

On the same day, it sued former presidential son and now Representative of “Ang Galing Pinoy” party-list, Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and wife, Angela, for attempting to evade paying taxes worth P73.45 million.

Congressman Arroyo already shrugged off the charges saying it is a both a gimmick and a harassment.

The BIR chief, though, believes otherwise, “Kumpiyansa kami na malakas ang kaso,” she said as she denied it was only meant to harass the son of former President Gloria Arroyo.