PROTECTING THE TAXPAYERS’ RIGHTS: Sen. Win Gatchalian presides over the hybrid hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on twin measures promoting the taxpayers’ bill of rights Thursday, September 15, 2022. (Bibo Nueva España / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Filing of taxes can sometimes be daunting for ordinary Filipinos. Thus, Senator Win Gatchalian proposed the creation of a National Taxpayer Advocate that would assist Filipinos in resolving their tax woes.
Gatchalian, who is the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, proposed the measure under the Senate Bill No. 1199, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and Obligations Act.
Aside from that, the bill also stipulates the taxpayers’ basic right to participate in taxpayer dialogues and information or education campaigns to elicit awareness on their rights and obligations while helping them comply with revenue laws, rules, and regulations.
“We are aware that taxation laws can sometimes become very difficult to understand by ordinary taxpayers and it is critical that we enable them to appreciate these laws more clearly,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Friday.
In his bill, Gatchalian said the proposed office “will serve as the champion of every taxpayer, especially those who are either ignored or taken advantage of.”
He said the Office of the National Taxpayer Advocate shall be an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice for the purposes of policy and program coordination, under the administration and supervision of an official to be known as the National Taxpayer Advocate.
The National Taxpayer Advocate shall have the rank of Undersecretary and shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. —with Alyssa Joy Quevedo, INQUIRER.net trainee