APO bags Int’l awards for ‘sin tax’ stamps

APO Production Unit, the official Philippine government printer of the recently- launched “sin tax” or excise tax stamps, won the top awards for Best Design and Best Tax Stamp Program in the prestigious international awards for Excellence in Tax Stamps. The same entry received a commendation in a third category, Best New Innovation.

The 2015 winners were announced and awarded during a ceremony held as part of the Tax Stamp Forum, which took place in Miami, Florida, USA, attended by 250 international delegates.

The Excellence in Tax Stamps awards recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations in tax stamp design, technological innovation, and implementation and enforcement in tax stamp programs. Each of the three awards categories highlights the important role that tax stamp programs play in combating illicit trade and protecting tax revenues.

APO’s 2014 Philippine Excise Tax Stamps was the sole winner in the Best Design Award and shared top honors with Best Tax Stamp Program with the Turkish Revenue Authority ( Banderol Product Tracking System).

Present to receive the awards during the Miami Tax Stamp Forum was the APO Production Unit delegation led by APO president Amando C. Dimarucot, Jr. and EVP and general manager Jaime H. Aldaba.

The 2014 Philippine Excise Tax Stamp program was designed and implemented by the APO Production Unit in fulfillment of the Philippine Sin Tax Law ( Republic Act 10351), enacted in December 2012. Under the law, revenue generated from the tax would be used to fund government health care programs.

To aid the implementation of the Sin Tax Law, APO took the challenge of revolutionizing the excise tax stamp to meet the government’s requirements.

Employing innovative technologies, APO developed a stamp design reflecting the Philippine heritage, into which was introduced various overt, covert, and forensic security features.

Due to the stamp’s functional design and non-intrusive nature, taxpayers readily adopted its use, resulting in a 95 percent market penetration.

APO has also adopted for country’s tax stamp program the Internal Revenue Stamp Integrated System ( IRSIS), a web- based application that manages the ordering, production, distribution, affixing and tracking of revenue stamps.