'We used to do everything manually until we automated data matching (of VAT transactions versus VAT declarations) and came up with the e-report card system in 2003 and from then on moved to business intelligence through data mining,' said BIR acting assistant commissioner Charo Curiba. Through business intelligence, the bureau matches third-party information from other public and private offices and its own database to detect discrepancies in declarations and other data deviations.

Curiba said the BI task force (BITF) was formed in 2004 to handle declaration discrepancies of the taxpayers that were uncovered through the BI software and to recommend projects centered on imploring analysis of data through data mining in order to increase revenue collection.