Help stop corruption in BIR

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is mandated to assess and collect the right taxes. On the other hand, taxpayers are required to file and pay the right taxes.

But our experience tells us it is far easier said than done.

It is easy for us to blame BIR for any tax problem we encounter, in the same way that the BIR assumes taxpayers are not paying the right taxes.

We have heard a lot of stories, frustrations and corruption in dealing with BIR, especially during audit and investigation.

The President said himself, the BIR is one of the most corrupt government agencies.

And this made it difficult for taxpayers to trust BIR, and even harder to pay the right taxes.

However, inasmuch as we despise BIR and all the corruption in government, this doesn't give us a license or reason not to pay our taxes correctly.

Not paying the right taxes isn't just wrong. It is a crime.

Working with Commissioner Billy Dulay, I have regained my trust and hope in our tax system. We don't need to sugarcoat it.

Corruption is embedded in the system where both taxpayers and tax collectors benefit, while the supposedly beneficiaries of the taxes we ought to pay suffer—our people, the poor and marginalized.

Despite the efforts of Commissioner Dulay to stop corrup- tion in BIR, it isn't happening overnight and not while we, the taxpayers, continue to bribe BIR examiners.

Like most of us, Commissioner Dulay sincerely wants to heed the call of the President—to stop corruption in BIR.

But we cannot just wait and see.

We need to do our share, and support the ongoing comprehensive tax reform program of the government.

As I have always mentioned, a genuine tax reform needs to take place in three strategic areas: legislation (tax policy), administration (tax administration) and compliance (taxpayers).

While we wait for Congress to pass the

comprehensive tax reform bill (HB 5636), we need to support the BIR as it streamlines the rules and regulations by improving our voluntary compliance.

This will help the government collect the needed funds for vital infrastructure projects and social services.

The comprehensive tax reform is both urgent and necessary.

We must urge the President to certify it as a priority bill to expedite its passage and immediate implementation this July 2017, especially the lowering of personal income tax.

And to help the government collect the right taxes, we need to work with BIR to simplify its regulations and compliance requirements, and to prosecute tax evaders including corrupt BIR examiners.

We need to stop corrup- tion.

Thus in partnership with the BIR, the Center for Strategic Reforms of the Philippines (CSR Philippines), together with the Department of Trade and Industry, and Integrity Initiative supported by the Philippine Business Group, will launch the Seal of Honesty (SOH) Certification Program on May 31, 2017 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

For more details, e-mail us at consult@acg.ph or call (02) 6227720.

Wehave invited Vice President Leni Robredo as keynote speaker to encourage more businesses, especially large corporations, to support the program.

As we always say, taxes are meant to uplift the lives of the Filipino people. And if we want a better Philippines, let us strive to be better Filipinos.

Join us and let us all be better and more honest taxpayers for a better Philippines.