BIR should collect P70-B tax debt of POGOs instead imposing new taxes to online sellers, says Gatchalian

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) should run after tax evading-offshore gaming operators rather than going after online sellers in the country.

Gatchalian reminded the BIR that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have about P70-billion worth of unsettled taxes since 2017, saying authorities should collect these obligations.

“Dapat ang habulin sa buwis ang mga POGO. P70-B ang utang nito sa pamahalaan. Kung ako ang tatanungin, dapat habulin na muna ang mga POGO,” said Gatchalian in an interview with DZBB.

According to Gatchalian, before imposing new taxes on the digital economy, the government should think first ways to develop the industry in order to provide more jobs and opportunities to all Filipinos.

Gatchalian warned that “premature taxation will only do harm than good to our growing digital economy.”

“Insensitive sa mga nangyayari sa ating mga kababayan, marami sa ating mga kababayan, mga kaibigan natin na dahil sa pandemya natigil ang kanilang trabaho at gumawa ng paraan para kumita,” said Gatchalian.

“Nakakagulat lang na ngayon ay ito ang pinagtyatyagaan ng ating mga kababayan tapos bubuwisan pa ng BIR, marami tayong mga kababayan mababawasan pa ang kita sa ganitong panahon at di lang yun pati mga nagdedeliver dahil mababawasan din ang kanilang ide-deliver,” he added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)