Pangilinan says taxing online sellers ‘unjust and heartless’

MANILA, Philippines — “Insensitive, unjust and heartless.”

That was how Senator Francis Pangilinan described the government’s plan to tax online sellers as he joined several senators in opposing such move.

“Imposing taxes amidst a pandemic, joblessness, and poverty is insensitive, unjust, and heartless. Bago mag-isip ang gobyerno kung ano ang makukuha nito sa mga maliliit na nagnenegosyo gaya ng mga online seller, isipin sana muna nito kung ano’ng tulong na ang naibigay nito sa kanila,” Pangilinan said in a statement on Monday.

(Imposing taxes amidst a pandemic, joblessness, and poverty is insensitive, unjust, and heartless. Before the government thinks of what it could get from small-time business owners, like online sellers, it should first think of what help it could give them).

“Bakit pagdidiskitahan pa yung mga nagsusumikap mabuhay nang marangal sa gitna ng pandemya?” he asked.

(Why pick on those who are trying to make a living nobly amid the pandemic?)

Similar to some of his colleagues, the senator called on the government to focus on smugglers and “big tax evaders.”

“Government should instead train its sights on smugglers and big tax evaders such as POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operators),” he said.

Malacañang, however, had earlier said that the government is collecting the unpaid taxes of POGOs.

“Mali ang timing. Patong-patong na ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga tao, huwag nang dagdagan pa,” Pangilinan went on.

(This is ill-timed. Struggles experienced by the Filipino are piling up, I hope the government won’t add to that).

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) earlier directed online sellers and other digital-based businesses to register their activities, declare previous transactions and settle their corresponding taxes not later than July 31.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said online sellers earning below P250,000 yearly are exempted from paying taxes.

And despite widespread criticism, the Department of Finance stood firm on having online sellers register with the BIR.

In an Inquirer report over the weekend, Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko said, “the goal of this project is not to go after online merchants for unreported sales or unpaid taxes.”

“We just want to encourage those who are engaged in online businesses to register with the BIR,” Tionko, head of the DOF’s revenue operations group, said.

“Online transactions have increased for quite some time now, especially during the community quarantine period. That’s why we want to take this opportunity to remind them to register their businesses,” Tionko added.

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