Tuesday, May 23, 2006

BIR-Aklan Is Ready to Comply With Non-wage Benefit Order

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Aklan Revenue District Officer Lilivic Gatdula said “their office is ready to comply with the order of providing non-wage benefits to workers once the implementing guidelines and regulations are in place.”
This is in connection with Malacañang’s labor day announcement of giving non-wage benefits to workers which include the condonation of penalties on GSIS and SSS loans of workers, income tax exemption to minimum wage earners, additional allocation for housing loans with low interest rates, trainings and scholarships, and presence of commissaries at government offices that offer cheap merchandise to workers.
“Once there is already an order from higher BIR officials to exempt minimum wage earners from paying income taxes, their office would disseminate the necessary information and follow the order,” said Gatdula.
“Currently, withholding tax is not applied to employees receiving a monthly salary of P5,000.00,” she added.
This year, BIR-Aklan has a collection target of P445,435,000. Last year, of their P335,000,000 collection target, it was able to collect some P367,000,000, earning for themselves generous praises from provincial officials of Aklan as well as awards and recognition from BIR Regional Office for their excellent collection performance.
Gatdula is optimistic, BIR-Aklan will meet its collection target this year. She emphasized however, that this would be realized with the cooperation of all Aklanons by demanding official receipts when purchasing goods or availing of professional services.
“It is through the issuance of receipts that businessmen can declare their correct income and pay the right amount of taxes,” Gatdula concluded.
Meanwhile, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members who have availed of realty and restructured loans had long been enjoying the debt condonation privileges of the GSIS, according to Nona F. Moreño, Division Chief of the GSIS-Aklan Field Office.
According to aid Moreño, “these are the privileges being enjoyed by GSIS members. Regular payment of salary loans plus interest could not be condoned however, as this would affect those who are religiously paying their loans with the hope of having the privilege to borrow again.” (PIA/vgvillanueva) /MP

No comments: