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Bureau of Customs (BOC) deputy commissioner for assessment and operations coordinating group Agaton Teodoro Uvero stated that “the government is losing approximately PHP600 million in taxes per year due to ‘technical smuggling’ through balikbayan boxes.”
“Uvero related that balikbayan boxes are used to transport commercial items for businesses, including watches, bags, perfumes and other imported goods. He revealed that they even found 11 brand-new LED television sets inside a specially sized box during a recent spot check,” reports Evelyn Macairan in The Philippine Star.
Uvero was quoted as saying, “We do not have an exact figure on the losses, but we are estimating that there is around PHP50,000 in underpayment for every shipping container (carrying balikbayan boxes). If there are 1,000 containers coming in every month, that means a rough estimate of PHP50 million lost (by the) government.”
Thus, the BOC is planning to implement higher duties and taxes on packages.
The report noted: “At present, a container loaded with balikbayan boxes is charged about PHP80,000. The BOC said it may increase the amount to about PHP120,000,” reports Evelyn Macairan in The Philippine Star.
The regulations on the new taxes for balikbayan boxes will be released before Oct 1.
Photo: RetiringPhilippines.org
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