THE cost of going after online sellers to make them pay taxes amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be higher than what will be collected, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Monday.
During a televised interview, Gatchalian maintained that online micro, small, and medium enterprises must be spared from this duty.
“Sa aking computation kung hahabulin natin itong maliliit, paparehistro natin, papa-audit natin baka mas malaki pa ang ang gastos ng gobyerno at administrative kaysa sa buwis na makokolekta natin. ‘Yun po ang nakikita ho namin,” he said.
“Halos isang milyon na ho ang ating MSMEs at lahat ho to ay talagang online na po ang pamamaraan dahil kung sa mall, hindi naman pwedeng pumunta doon. Kaya marami nang nagbebenta online, maganda para ‘yan sa akin,” he added.
Gatchalian said taxation is all about timing.
“Kung ‘yan ay uusbong at lalawak, pagdating ho ng panahon pwede na ho natin silang buwisan pero sa ngayon na umuusbong pa lang tapos papatayin na natin baka wala nang mag-transition to online,” he said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently issued a memorandum circular notifying “all persons doing business and earning income in any manner or form, specifically those who are into digital transactions through the use of any electronic platforms and media, and other digital means,” that they should register to ensure that they are tax compliant.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, explained that online sellers with net income less than P250,000 a year do not need to pay taxes.(GMA News)
