Tabuk intensifies collection on tax deficiencies
by Gigi Dumallig
TABUK, Kalinga (30 October) -- Heeding the call of the Arroyo Administration to intensify the tax and revenue collection efforts, the local government unit (LGU) of Tabuk implemented new strategies in its renewed collection campaign.
According to Tabuk Municipal Administrator Laurence Bayongan, the LGU mandated all business establishments to submit copies of their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) duly received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) or audited financial statements as provided by the Municipal Revenue Code (MRC) as basis for computation for their tax deficiencies.
Bayongan said the deficiencies are substantial because when they come to pay their dues to the municipal revenue collector, they just make estimates as they claim that their financial records are not yet consolidated.
"Under the Municipal Revenue Code, businesses are supposed to submit copies of their ITRs and financial statements on or before May 20, but ever since they have not been doing this", he said.
Those who will not be submitting the needed documents this year will be charged one percent monthly on their tax deficiencies as stipulated in the MRC, Bayongan said even as he warned that non-compliance could possibly result to closure and tax evasion charges.
He pointed out that there should be mutual responsibility between the LGU and businesses because "we are trying to create a business-friendly environment for them to grow. They should help in doing their part," he said.
It can be recalled that Tabuk did not qualify for citihood last year since it was not able to meet the required revenue collection. The municipal leadership is hopeful that the intensification of tax collection will eventually bring the municipality to achieve its vision of becoming the second city in the Cordillera in the near future. (PIA-Kalinga) [top]
