BIR Capiz forms ‘SanTAX Claus’ team

by A. Lumaque

Roxas City (19 November) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 72 has formed a team dubbed “SanTAX Claus” to reach out to “tiangge” or “privileged-store” operators and similar business establishments this Christmas shopping season.

“Nine members composed the team who were given the authority to identify, visit and monitor bazaars, “tiangges” and events, conduct Taxpayer Verification Drive to determine compliance with BIR requirements and to assist non-compliant taxpayers to rectify violations by complying with registration, invoicing and other requirements,” said BIR RDO No. 72 Taxpayers Service Section Chief and Public Information Officer Ma. Gracia DC Balgos.

The team was created by BIR Capiz Revenue District Officer Gil G. Tabanda in line with the Revenue Memorandum Order No. 34 – 2009 issued by BIR senior Deputy Commissioner Joel L. Tan – Torres.

“Instead of delivering toys, the SanTAX Claus teams will be giving out flyers, posting tarpaulins and observing whether vendors are properly issuing receipts or invoices,” said a BIR news release.

The team was also instructed to assist event organizers to comply with BIR requirements especially on registration and ensure that admission tickets being sold are registered with the tax agency.

“If the event organizers and participating vendors are found to have committed any violations, the same team will be handing out BIR Registrations Forms and pre-generated TINs to the erring applicants,” the news noted, adding that applicants will be asked to pay the annual registration fee of P500.

A random check of the serial numbers’ series of the invoices/officials receipts in the possession of participating vendors is also the responsibility of the team.