DID YOU KNOW

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the institution under the Department of Finance that assesses and collects all national internal revenue taxes, fees and charges, was formally organized on Aug. 1, 1904. The first organization started with 69 employees, including a collector, vice-collector, a chief clerk, a law clerk, a records clerk and three division chiefs. The first collector was an American named John S. Hord. The current BIR holds office at the BIR National Office on BIR Road in Diliman, Quezon City. —MARIELLE MEDINA, INQUIRER RESEARCH