Ombudsman to intensify lifestyle checks on BIR, BOC

The Office of the Ombudsman announced it will intensify the lifestyle checks being conducted on officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) over reports that excessive fees were being collected from businesses.

Speaking during a town hall dialogue with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said they have been “receiving reports that there are some collectors who take from businesses more than what is allowed by law, and this excess has no receipt.”

READ: Ombudsman to intensify lifestyle checks on BIR, BOC officials

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“Let us make this clear: There is no legitimate payment to the government that has no receipt. Every peso paid to the government should have a receipt. Payments with no receipts are not taxes. That is corruption,” Remulla said.

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He added that payments with no receipts were even higher than payments that had receipts, based on some reports to his office.

“The amount that goes to the pockets of some individuals is higher than the amount that goes to the public,” he said.

While saying that he understands why many business owners choose to pay these exorbitant fees, Remulla urged them not to consider such payments as part of their usual expenditures. He said continuing to pay these fees only reinforces a system of bribery and extortion.

“If we are to change this, the government needs to ensure the safety of those who decline to pay; that is our job. Businesses also need to have the strength to stop paying these fees. That is your part,” he said. INQ