By Iris C.
Gonzales (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 1, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA,
Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it seeks to level the
playing field through its plan to tax online sellers.
BIR
Commissioner Kim Henares said taxing online shops or businesses is only
appropriate because regular businesses are taxed by the BIR. “If we don’t deal
with online sellers, we’re not leveling the playing field with someone who has a
physical store,” Henares said.
She said it’s
the same as going after doctors who do not issue receipts.
The BIR chief
is referring to those who are engaged in business, people who trade, buy and
sell products online.
She said
consumers who patronize online businesses should always ask for a receipt not
only for tax purposes but also as proof of their transaction which would enable
them to file a complaint if needed.
The BIR is
stepping up efforts to boost revenues by going after various sectors such as
professionals, gold sellers and now, online businesses.
The agency
has already breached P1-trillion collection mark, the agency’s preliminary
revenue figures as of Dec. 17 showed.
The agency
has yet to check if it meets the P1.066-trillion goal for the year, the first
time in the agency’s history that the assigned target hit the P1-trillion mark.
Latest data
showed that the BIR met its collection target in November, raising P110.77
billion or P7.81 billion more than its target for the month of P102.953
billion.
Compared to
the same period last year, the BIR’s November collections showed an increase of
P18.02 billion or 19.42 percent.
The P110.77
billion generated in November brought the January to November collections to
P969.34 billion in tax revenues.
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