Council to summon BIR
TRANSPORT groups have asked the city council to intervene in an impasse at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Reynaldo Bacoco led transport groups in their complaint in what they believe is irregular protocol by the BIR in imposing penalties over payments made last year.
Bacoco said operators have annually paid their income tax returns as well as percentage tax in a one-time payment basis at the BIR office to which all have gotten clearances for the past years.
However, this year, the BIR informed all operators of a ruling imposing a quarterly payment but in effect is penalizing the group for the calendar year of 2016-17 despite clearances given by the BIR in the past.
Bacoco said operators of public transport vehicles are now required to pay at least P1,500 worth of penalties for the previous year despite paying all obligations to the BIR and acquiring tax clearances.
Some operators have been reportedly forced to pay the penalties despite their protest and questions in fear of nonregistration and operation of their vehicles.
Bacoco added the quarterly ruling of the BIR was not imposed in the past and asked why operators must be fined for the previous year when the ruling was only implemented this calendar year.
According to Bacoco, the ruling was made known to operators last month and if operators refuse to pay the P1,500 penalty, no tax clearance is issued by the BIR which in effect will hamper the registration process of all taxi, jeepney, school service as well as UV
express units in the city.
Bacoco said there is no problem in paying BIR dues in a quarterly basis, but stressed the problem lies in the imposition of penalties for the previous years.
In response to the transport group’s predicament, aldermen has moved to summon the BIR officials including the BIR OIC Assistant revenue district officer to the city council to shed light in the issue.
An invitation will be sent the BIR informing the office of the need for their presence in the next council session.