Bets who fail to pay campaign taxes warned
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Office No. 74 in Iloilo City said only a handful of candidates have failed to file for campaign taxes during the May 2010 automated national polls.
BIR Revenue District Office 74 officer Nelia Demalata said the candidates were from various municipalities in the provinces in Panay.
She said the “tax evading” candidates have been warned that they could end up facing criminal charges in court.
Demalata, however, lauded candidates in Iloilo City, both winners and non-winners, for paying their campaign taxes on time. She said that some of the elected officials even paid for the campaign taxes of their losing party mates.
BIR Iloilo Legal Divisions chief Yanson Chin said the agency would definitely run after the candidates who had been dodging their tax responsibilities even though the national election was conducted more than six months ago yet.
Chin also warned that the BIR can subpoena them anytime for failing to comply with taxation laws.
The Commission on Elections has ordered that candidates during the previous election should pay a campaign tax based on their statement of election expenditures to the BIR. They may risk losing their elected post for winners, or criminal charges for losing candidates if they run away from their tax obligations.
Meanwhile, Ma. Luchi Ong, head of Taxpayers Assistance Unit, said the “Premyo Sa Resibo” (PSR) program has been a success and has already awarded more than P 155 million worth of prices to winners all over the country.
Some of these winners are from Western Visayas, she said.
The BIR has also conducted 108 raffle draws all over the country, aside from the instant prizes such as free cellphone loads given out everyday.
Collection of taxes as a result of the PSR program has significantly improved, Ong said.
The BIR has already collected more than P 490 million worth of unpaid taxes through the PSR, and P247 million worth of unpaid business tax from companies caught to have no official receipts.
Demalata said the PSR also allowed the BIR to run after companies and individuals who have been evading their tax dues and responsibilities.
By joining the PSR, the participant can win more prizes such as cellphones, free loads, a brand new car, and up to P 1 million cash tax-free.
To join, the public are requested to submit official receipts from any transactions, and text PSR_TIN_OR number_amount and send to 977 for single receipt, or 9777 for multiple entries.
Weekly raffle draws are held every Monday, while monthly raffles are held every last Monday of the month. The grand raffle draw will be held on December 4.*PNA
