The Bureau of Internal Revenue is encouraging politicians, private individuals, civic organizations and corporations to avail of the general tax amnesty offered by the government.

Chief of Revenue District 79 Arturo Acabal said the amnesty is provided for by Republic Act No. 9480, a law enhancing revenue administration collection for taxable year 2005 and prior years, covering all unpaid internal revenue taxes. Acabal said this tax program is a rare opportunity for taxpayers to rectify their records, especially those who have not declared in their tax records various real properties.

The amnesty is good for only six months, after which, the government will conduct investigations on tax liabilities, Acabal said.

He said also covered by the program are individuals, whether resident or non-resident citizens, or resident or non-resident aliens, estates and trusts, cooperatives and tax exempt entities that have become taxable as of Dec. 31, 2005 and other juridical entities including partnerships.

The oversight committee of the House of Representatives is conducting a BIR Tax Amnesty Roadshow, including the one held in Bacolod City yesterday, with committee chairman Rep. Danilo Suarez as keynote speaker.

The BIR is also conducting information drive on the electronic filing and payment system.

Acabal said of the four revenue district offices in Negros island, only Revenue District 79 in Dumaguete City exceeded its target collection for September. He said they hope to collect an additional P275 million to meet their target collection of more than P1 billion at the end of the year. Acabal appealed to taxpayers to cooperate in their programs to reach this goal.*JG

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