STARTING Christmas Day, all balikbayan boxes sent by Filipinos abroad will now be exempted from duties and taxes, according to Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon.
The BOC and the Department of Finance have signed Customs Administrative Order 05-2016, which concerns the consolidated shipment of balikbayan boxes, to take effect on Dec. 25, 2016.
The order is under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, which includes raising the tax exemption ceiling for balikbayan boxes sent home by overseas Filipino workers.
Aside from promoting transparency in the graft-ridden bureau, and making collection of taxes more efficient, the CMTA law raises the tax exemption on consumer goods sent home by overseas Filipinos to their families, from the present P10,000 to P150,000.
Faeldon said the order serves as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the CMTA and covers the sending of balikbayan boxes by qualified Filipinos while abroad to their families and relatives.
“Filipinos abroad may avail [themselves] of duty and tax free privileges on balikbayan boxes containing personal effects and households goods,” Faeldon said.
He said the Filipinos abroad availing themselves of the exemption must present valid passports issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and certified by Department of Labor and Employment or Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for overseas employment purposes regardless of profession.
“Non-resident Filipinos who have established permanent residency abroad but retained their Filipino citizenship, Filipino citizens who temporarily stay abroad may include holders of student visa, investors’ visa, tourist visa, and similar visas which allow them to establish temporary stay abroad can avail [themselves of] the exemption,” he said.
Faeldon also ordered shipments of balikbayan boxes that would take three-day shipping time must be delivered within 24 hours after arrival, while shipments that would take seven-day shipping time must be out 48 hours after arrival.
Shipments from America, Europe, Middle East, and other parts of the world that do not fall under the above shipping time must be released 10 days after arrival.
