Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III cautioned the public to exercise “necessary care and caution” in handling their tax matters and in dealing with tax authorities as the peak of the annual income tax season nears this month.
The deadline for the filing of income tax returns is on April 15.
“I’ve been receiving many complaints relating to BIR harassment both from individual and corporate taxpayers. There appears to be certain individuals and groups preying on and taking advantage of taxpayers who are processing and preparing their returns. All of this stems from the urgency of beating the deadline and possibly minimizing tax compliance.”
Pimentel suggested that victims of harassment get in touch immediately with the proper authorities within the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
He likewise offered to hear and facilitate complaints, adding that he “encourages those being harassed to report these acts to me.”
“Exerting pressure on taxpayers, soliciting bribes, offering to underdeclare or completely falsify returns, these are all illegal acts punishable under various tax and criminal laws. It’s important that taxpayers avoid being victims or complicit participants in these kinds of activities.”
The lawyer-legislator, who topped the 1990 bar examinations, authored Senate Bill 293 in 2016 which provided for a one-time amnesty on estate taxes.
The bill was made part and became an integral portion of RA 11213, the new “Tax Amnesty Act” which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last February 14.