From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
Filipino Legislators Take the AIR Out of BIR Chief’s Proposal
Expats, Filipinos and visitors to the Philippines can now relax. The AIR (Annual Information Return) proposal by BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) Chief Kim Henares has had the air let out of it by Filipino lawmakers. Legislators ripped Henares a new one as they blasted the AIR proposal, Revenue Regulation No. 02-2011, issued March 1, compelling individuals earning P38,462 a month to file an AIR with their annual income tax return on a voluntary basis initially this year and to become mandatory starting next year. The lawmakers deemed her regulation illegal and unconstitutional. Thank God for some politicians with common sense!
This is the second time in less than a year in office that Commissioner Henares has been forced to back down. Henares had to retreat on a previous policy measure after the Philippines Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against her proposal to impose a 12-percent value added tax on toll rates, a proposal which was also savaged by representatives and senators, according to a report in the PhilSTAR.com.
It had been reported that the filing of the AIR was to be required of private individuals, including foreigners residing in the Philippines, as well as non-resident foreigners who are engaged in business here, according to the Inquirer.net. I've got news for you, brother, my income comes from an retirement account I have in the United States. I pay taxes to Uncle Sam every year. If you think I was going to succumb to another invasion of privacy and file this idiotic AIR, you are mistaken. Don't have to be concerned about it now thanks to the Filipino legislators. My hat's off to all of you!
Sounds great Dave….now things at the compound can lighten up a little hi hi hi…Maybe they just need to implement the flat rate tax and all pay a percent of what ever they make. Now with that said they would not get to much from a lot of the Fillipinos there because as stated they do not make much.The would make a lot off of those that are the have’s, but then I really see no way a flat rate tax will happen there. I would love to see it happen here in the USA….every body pay a percent of the income they made in a year…..and yes that include all those rich ones and all the goverment ones and etc., but do not look for it to happen…there are those that want it…sure would dave time on taxes and in a way be the most fair tax system of all…But of course our elected officals here do not want a flat rate tax…they so not want to pay it..so any way..its good for you there that this thing did not go thru..
I’m glad common sense prevailed. Taxes here are high enough what with the VAT and the “fees” associated with every government transaction.
Me, too, Tony. Good to have some positive news for a change.
99% of the time I wonder if anyone is in charge of running this country. I did meet an expat this year in Davao who was here on a tourist visa and he had a million dollar company in Davao and was getting ready to open a branch in Cebu. Did he pay the Philippines taxes on money earned here??? Not likely.
Not likely at all, Gary, not likely at all.
Glad to see this didn’t happen…….I am coming to Philippines ……….to get away from big brother goverment oversight…..
Keep us posted on the move, Ralph. I’m still enjoying a lot more personal freedom than I did in the States, but past stories I have done, like the national SIM card registration bill (which thankfully never has materialized), and our local barangay officials snooping around, but things are going pretty well. Still can buy a San Miguel whenever I like, pee where I want to, burn whatever crap I want to in the backyard, and say what I want to say on this website without being “politically correct.”
Sounds like he is one of the foreigners that the AIR was intended to target