The Bureau of Internal Revenue-Revenue District Office 36 that covers the city of Puerto Princesa and the Province of Palawan collected almost P400 million in taxes as of January 2021, an all-time high from their previous data in a monthly record. Most of these taxes were collected from real property tax transfer happenned last quarter of 2020 and January of present year.
The said record, according to BIR Revenue District Officer John Rainier Camba, shows that majority of Palaweños in this time of pandemic have no other option but to sell properties in order to survive since majority of the businesses mostly in tourism closed down its operations.
The actual collection of BIR-Palawan for January is P452,382.926.67 that exceeded 53.16% of the usual collection compare to previous years. This 2021, the island base district have a goal of P3.3 Billion tax collection target. BIR RDO 36 of Palawan is now rank 1 in the whole revenue region 6 that comprises City and provinces in Manila for January listing.
Aside from the property transfers, other sources of tax generated for January are from construction industries, tourism, withholding taxes from different local government units, quarry, retail and distribution businesses.
“Siguro sa campaign na rin ng BIR na magbayad, secondly ‘yung transfer of real properties na marami na nagbenta, kasi ‘yung transaction no’ng December pwede mo siyang ipasok ng January so karamihan no’ng December transaction of real property is binayad nila ng January, karamihan ng bulk ng tax is from real property transactions,” Camba said.
But for 2020, Palawan tax collection decreases due to the pandemic from a target of P4 Billion they were only able to collect at least P3 Billion tax revenue. El Nido being the third highest tax payer for 2019 lost its spot and land on ninth rank last year, while Puerto Princesa continue to reign as the number 1 source of tax in the island.
*See table for complete details.
“Una marami nagsara, pangalawa dahil nagsara walang maipasuweldo sa mga tao walang withholding tax na mai-iremit ‘yung mga employee sa BIR, tapos yung mga turista na karamihan bumibili sa tindahan, o kumukuha ng mga tours na naging source of income, ‘yun din nawala din ‘yun, ‘yung reason talaga is pandemic,” Camba explained.
The bureau is confident that local businesses are now starting to recover this 2021, the high collection of tax this January is a sign that Palawan will bounce back in the economy.
“Sa tingin ko sa nangyari ngayong January parang unti-unti nagbuboom ang economy natin lalo na rito sa Palawan, so I think ma hit pa rin natin ang target,” Camba added.
BIR –RDO Palawan would like to remind the public not to delay their tax payment, amnesty program is also implemented and extended until June 20 this year, same thing for those who have tax delinquency issue, a no interest and surcharge is deducted to payments as long as they file it on or before June 30.
Deadline for filing of income tax returns is on April 15, and deadline for filing of monthly Value Added Tax is this coming February 20.
“Encourage namin ‘yung mga tax payers na mag bayad before the deadline ng April 15 para una hindi sila hassle, pangalawa ‘yung social distancing dahil maraming tao, kung kaya magbayad at mag prepare ng mga dokumento nang mas maaga do’n sa deadline mas okay,” Camba said in closing.
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