 |
| Larawan mula sa Google |
Amid the uproar of the public on the directive to tax the online sellers, Presidential
spokesperson Harry Roque said that the said policy started during the administration
of former President Benigno Aquino III
Roque
reminded the citizens that the policy came from former BIR Kim Henares under Aquino
presidency.
“Itong
polisiya na ito hindi ito bago. Itong polisiya po na buwisan ang mga online
sellers nagsimula pa po nung si Kim Henares ang BIR Commissioner sa panahon ni
Presidente Noynoy Aquino, pinatutupad lang po natin ang instruction at isang
batas na pinasimulan ni Presidente Noynoy Aquino,” Roque said in a televised
Palace briefing.
Roque was
referring to Henares’s 2013 order which requires registration and payment of
tax from online business transactions, or online stores or marketplaces.
“Ang bago
po, ngayon lang po nagkaroon ng 0 percent income tax ang mga kumikita nang
hanggang P250,000. ‘Yan po ay dahil sa Train na isinabatas as an
administration-certified bill sa administrasyon ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte,”
he added.
BIR
directed online sellers and other digital-based businesses to register their
activities, as well as settle to declare previous incomes and settle taxes not
later than July 31.
Earlier, Senate
Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said the government should impose hefty taxes on
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) instead of going after the online
sellers who are only trying to survive during the pandemic.
Aside from
Zubiri, senator Risa Hontiveros also opposed the directive calling it an added
burden to ordinary Filipinos who needs extra income to get by.
Just like
Zubiri, she wants the government to go after POGO instead of the online
sellers.
“Kahit na
may 50B pesos unpaid taxes sila, at kahit na di essential, pinayagan pa ring
mag-operate sa ilalim ng ECQ [enhanced community quarantine]. Mayroon din
silang mass testing, at tayo wala,” Hontiveros said in a recent statement.
“Pwede bang
kapakanan ng mga Pinoy muna?” Hontiveros added
0 Comments