BIR To Political Candidates, Donors: Pay Your Taxes

The Bureau of Internal Revenue chief has reminded political candidates and their donors for the election campaign to pay their taxes.

Commissioner Kim Henares, who was in Pangasinan for the inauguration of a new BIR building in Urdaneta City, said donations given to politicians must be spent for the campaigns. If unused, donations must be returned to the donor or must be declared in the candidate’s income tax return form, she added.

“Pag may nag-donate, gastusin sa kampanya, kapag hndi nagastos sa kampanya at may tira, if they (candidates) don’t like to pay taxes, ibalik sa nag-donate. Pag hindi ibabalik, ire-report yan dapat sa income tax return at magbayad (sila) ng buwis,” Henares said.

Candidates who buy services, use pamphlets and tarpaulins and buy media airtimes must also pay withholding taxes of five percent, she added.

As for the donors of the candidates, Henares reminded them to make sure that they pay their taxes correctly.

“Yung mga nag-donate naman, siguraduhin niyo na nagbayad kayo ng buwis. Kasi kung magdo-donate kayo, saan ninyo kinuha yung pera?” the BIR chief reiterated. (MCA/VHS/PIA-1/Pangasinan)