www.tmap.org.ph
April 2014
TMAP MONITOR Pinoy Taxpayers Forum: “Making it Easy as RFP”
Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe of the BIR shared the BIR program “Making it Easy as RFP”
TMAP BOD poses with the guest panelists
“Making it easy as RFP” (register, file and pay) is the slogan of the BIR in their newly launched tax information campaign for 2014.
from various sectors discussed their problems and experiences in registering, filing and paying their taxes.
During the TMAP GMM held on March 26, 2014, TMAP pitched the new slogan with the experience of the taxpayers wishing to comply their tax obligations.
Guest panelists were Mr. Bill Gardner, Chief of Party, Facilitating Public Investment, USAID; Ms. Janette Toral of DigitalFilipino.com representing online sellers; Atty. Vicente Joyas, President of IBP;
Representing the BIR was Deputy Commissioner Atty. Nelson Aspe. Taxpayers
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Lingkod TMAP 2014 Taxpayer education is the key to understanding taxpayer rights and responsibilities and one of the primary taxpayer’s responsibilities is the timely filing and correct payment of annual income tax returns. The 2014 income tax filing season was a particularly challenging one with the Continue on page 3
TMAP Volunteers pose with RR8 officers
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April 2014
News in pics
TMAP representatives Attys. Malou Lim and Lea Roque with RR Officers, Regional Director Nestor S. Valeroso and Assistant RD Tess M. Dizon
TMAP courtesy call with BIR Revenue Region No. 7 (Quezn City) Director Jonas Amora.
TMAP volunteers are the Revenue Region 8
TMAP volunteers at work in RR 8.
TMAP Volunteers at the Revenue Region 7
TMAP volunteers at work in RR 8.
Induction of New Members Two new members inducted during the March GMM were:
Atty. Delfin Angao Del is a senior partners of Castillo Laman Tan & Pantaleon Law Offices. He is a CPA Lawyer. He finished his law studies at the University of the East. We work at the SEC from 1982 to 1992. He is an avid golfer and is assisting the TMAP Golf Cup Committee for the 7th TMAP Tournament.
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www.tmap.org.ph
April 2014
New Members
Michelle Yap-Bersales Mitch is presently the head of the Financial Control Department of China Banking Corporation. He finished here BS Accountancy from the De La Salle University and has an MBA degree from AIM where she was a Dean’s Lister. She was with SGV from 2001 to 2013 where her last position was Senior Director of the Tax Reporting and Operations Group.
Lingkod TMAP
taxpayers who flocked to the helpdesks.
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introduction of new income tax forms for individuals and corporations and additional disclosure requirements.
TMAP thanks its volunteers who took time off from their busy schedules to lend support to this annual activity.
To help ease the burden of taxpayers, TMAP held has once again established Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Revenue Regions 7 (Quezon City) and 8 (Makati). Lingkod TMAP is an annual project of the Association wherein TMAP, in partnership with the BIR, assists taxpayers in filing their annual income tax returns and in complying with their tax obligations. Started in 2008, the 2014 Lingkod TMAP is chaired by Atty. Malou Lim, who also acted as the Makati Help Desk Coordinator together with Atty. Lea Roque, while Attys. Randy Bello and Benedict Tugonon coordinated the QC Help Desk. TMAP members assisted in manning the helpdesks on April 11, 14 and 15, together with BIR personnel. The volunteers shared information on filling-out the new income tax forms, proper calculation of income taxes payable, completeness of supporting documentation and filing procedures to the 3
www.tmap.org.ph Pinoy taxpayers Forum from page 1
April 2014 last minutes changes, compliance should not be mandatory.
Mr. Ramon Garcia, Past President of Association of Certified Public Accountants in the Public Practice (ACPAPP) and Ms. Tina Ocampo representing Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA).
“Consultation should be had before the circulars,” Atty. Joyas emphasized. He noted that right now, consultation is done after the issuance of the regulations and is conducted only to inform the taxpayers of the implementation.
Taxpayers noted that a lot of the regulations come out at the last minute. This makes it very difficult to comply on the part of the taxpayers. Ms. Ocampo noted that accountants themselves get confused about the “photo finish” rules of the BIR. One can only imagine how the regular taxpayers are faring with the multitude of new and confusing rules.
“The IBP is committed to the rule of law that every taxpayer should declare their true and correct income and that every taxpayer should pay their true and correct taxes,” Atty. Joyas concluded.
ACPAPP suggested that the BIR should first pilot test new rules and forms before the entire population is required to comply. More importantly, changes should not be made during the tax filing season. If there are The Tax
Management Association of the Philippines, Inc. is a non-stock corporation founded on October 22, 1981 established primarily to professionalize tax practice and provide a channel by which the private sector may actively participate in the drafting of tax laws, rules and regulations. At present, TMAP has over 100 members most of whom belong to, or act as consultants for, the top 1,000 corporations. The Association has been instrumental in the development and promotion of reforms in the country’s tax laws and in tax administration by actively participating in public hearings and submitting position papers in connection with the passage of revenue laws, rules and regulations. TMAP raises the level of professionalism and technical competence among its members by keeping them abreast of the latest tax
On the part of the online resellers, Ms. Toral shared some posts from the other online resellers. She noted the common complaint that the BIR’s processes are antiquated and ancient. There is a need to simplify the tax system in the Philippines. “Start-ups are thinking of putting their business in more friendly jurisdictions such as Singapore,” she shared. rulings, regulations, issuances, decisions and policies through habitual seminars conducted by experts in government and in the private practice. The Association also conducts regular dialogues with pertinent government officials on policy issues affecting its members. TMAP has instilled and continues to instill among its members competence, professionalism and integrity in tax practice. TMAP believes that responsible tax practice is indispensable to the country’s economic growth and development.
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