PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) yesterday said that local government units (LGUs) and government agencies will help the BIR ascertain effective use of information declared from tax amnesty returns (TARs) and Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALNs) required to be filed under RA 9480 or the Tax Amnesty Act of 2007.
This was made known by the tax agency even as BIR Commissioner Lilian B. Hefti had earlier warned revenue officials and employees of unlawful divulgence of TARs or SALNs as some devious outsiders are trying to get information from the Bureau about tax amnesty returns filed by availing taxpayers.
Only on its 8th leg, the Tax Amnesty Roadshow now conducted here at the Golden Fields Garden Royale in Bacolod City, Oversight Committee chairman Danilo Suarez, and BIR Assistant Commissioner Jaime B. Santiago have once again joined hands in appealing to taxpayers in the country to avail of the tax amnesty program that will give taxpayers a worry-free holiday season.
According to Suarez and Santiago, for purposes of enhancing revenue administration, revenue collection and policy formulation, the Department of Finance (DoF) in coordination with the BIR, Land Registration Authority (LRA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other concerned government agencies shall institute an Information Management Program (IMP) for the effective use of information declared or obtainable from TARs and SALNs.
Also, the BIR may as well seek the assistance of the LGUs under the Revenue Assurance Project in ascertaining the usefulness of information obtainable from TARs and SALNs.
Also according to him, an amount collected from the Tax Amnesty Program shall accrue to the DoF for the exclusive use instituting a Management Information System (MIS) as mandated.
Today’s tax amnesty forum here in Bacolod City was made possible by the revenue region headed by Regional Director Rodith Galanto and her able revenue district officers Jona Ruth Monte of Bacolod City, Cynthia Cabuguas of Victorias, Gil Tabanda of Binalbagan City and Antonio Acabal of Dumaguete City.
Also present to grace the occasion are Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, other local government officials, business representatives, professionals, national and local press people, officials from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), officials from the regional DPWH, Rotary Club and other business organizations’ representatives and the taxpaying public.