Month: April 2015

Bam Lauds BIR Extension for ‘No Payment’ Returns

“Salamat sa pakikinig sa ating mga Boss.”

Senator Bam Aquino lauds the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for granting a two-month reprieve to taxpayers with “No Payment” returns, a move that will benefit many small and medium enterprises and self-employed individuals.

“The extended deadline will be a big help to many of our SMEs and self-employed who are included in this category,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Sen. Bam’s pronouncement came after BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares announced that taxpayers with No Payment returns will be allowed to file manually but will be required to re-file electronically on or before June 15, 2015.

Earlier, Sen. Bam asked the BIR cancel the imposition of penalties on taxpayers covered by the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) or Electronic BIR Forms (eBIRForms) who failed to file tax returns under the electronic systems.

In his letter, Sen. Bam called on Henares to suspend imposition of penalties under Revenue Regulation No. 5-2015 until next year to give taxpayers enough time to familiarize themselves with the agency’s online facilities.

At the same time, Sen. Bam urges the BIR to clarify those covered by the e-filing for the guidance of the agency’s regional district offices (RDOs).

“It will be helpful if the BIR could cite some clear examples so taxpayers could assert that they are not required to e-file once they go to their respective RDOs,” Sen. Bam said.

“Based on numerous complaints from the taxpayers, the issuance of the revenue regulations and the memorandum circular has caused confusion regarding the proper implementation of the revenue regulations and the memorandum circular,” said Sen. Bam. 

“Tulungan natin ang ating maliliit na negosyante at hindi tayo maging pahirap sa kanilang mga negosyo,” added Sen. Bam.

Team Rave at the office of POEA L-R: Director Robert Larga (POEA), Officer Norman Cualteros (Office of Sen. Bam), Director Jesus Gabriel C. Domingo (POEA), Hoff Sacobo (Rave), Mark 'Cast' Pilar (Rave), Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac (POEA), Djardel 'Chrissy' Mampusti (Rave)

POEA extends support to professional Dota 2 Team Rave

Team Rave at the office of POEA
L-R: Director Robert Larga (POEA), Officer Norman Cualteros (Office of Sen. Bam), Director Jesus Gabriel C. Domingo (POEA), Hoff Sacobo (Rave), Mark ‘Cast’ Pilar (Rave), Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac (POEA), Djardel ‘Chrissy’ Mampusti (Rave)

 

 

 

 

The office of Senator Bam Aquino wrote to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA) after the offloading incident of Filipino professional Dota 2 team, Rave. Senator Bam intends to find out the root causes of the problem and to solve the issues so it would not happen again in the future.

POEA invited the three players of Rave that were involved in the incident for a meeting. In the said meeting POEA was clarified with Rave’s state as a professional gaming team that frequently participates in online and offline gaming tournaments in order to financially sustain themselves with prize money – all this without a salary. Rave’s biggest win so far being their 5th place finish at the Dota 2 Asian Championships at China which netted them at least $150,000 (around P6.6 million).

Rave also clarified with POEA that the players do indeed have a contract but does not make them employees because of the absense of a salary clause. Rave’s Korean manager, Pyung Kwon, provides them a place to stay (gaming house) with a fast and stable internet connection at South Korea. Because of the country’s location and internet, training at Korea enables Rave to scrim with teams all over the world which includes North America, Europe, and China – a very unique and sizable advantage.

POEA extends their support towards the professional Dota 2 team, and clarified with them what are the right documents and processes for convenient travelling especially with The International Dota 2 Championships (the biggest annual Dota 2 tournament, last year’s prize pool reached $10,930,698 or P486 million) closing in this August 2015 at Seattle, USA.

The offloading incident caused Rave to perform poorly in various qualifiers for international tournaments:

  • online SEA qualifier for Starladder 12, main event in Bucharest, Romania (pulled out due to schedule conflict with US visa appointments for Major League Gaming)
  • online SEA qualifier for ESL ONE, main event at Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany (lost to Underminer at the quarterfinals)
  • online SEA qualifier for Redbull Battlegrounds, main event at Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California (lost to Team Malaysia at the finals)

Rave however managed to qualify for The Summit 3, a $200,000 tournament at Los Angeles, California which is set this coming May 2015. Their performance in this tournament will weigh heavily towards their chance of a direct invite to The International 2015.

The office of Senator Bam thanked POEA for their willingness to extend their help towards the Filipino professional Dota 2 team.

Bam Aquino then addressed the questions as to why he is in full-support to esports.

“Malaki kasi ang potensiyal ng nasabing industriya na makakatulong sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa.

Marami nang kumpanyang Pilipino ang pumapasok sa industriyang ito, mula sa paggawa ng animation hanggang sa pag-develop ng software.

Ang katumbas nito ay daan-daang bagong trabaho at kabuhayan para sa ating mga kababayan.
Ang pagratsada ng industriyang ito ay katulad din ng paghataw ng business process outsourcing industry sampung taon na ang nakalipas.

Ito’y puno ng potensiyal para sa papasimulang negosyo at kayang magbigay ng magandang trabaho para sa mga artists at developers.

Sa galing ng mga Pilipino sa pagdidisenyo ng software, ang Pilipinas ay nagiging isa na sa mga paboritong destinasyon ng online video gaming companies para sa paggawa ng bagong produkto.

Maliban pa rito, kilala na rin ang mga Pilipino bilang isa sa mga aktibong manlalaro ng online games sa mundo.

Sa ngayon, mayroon nang halos 29 milyong Pilipino ang naglalaro ng online games. Sa nasabing bilang, nasa dalawampung milyon ang casual gamers habang nasa siyam na milyon ang tinatawag na midcore at hardcore gamer.

Kung mabibigyan ng sapat na suporta, lalo pang lalago ang potensiyal ng video gaming industry bilang pagmumulan ng trabaho at kabuhayan, maliban pa sa mga karangalan na gaya ng bigay ng Team Rave!”

 

Source: Mineski.net

 

 

Bam to BIR: Postpone Deadline, Cancel Penalties

“Huwag na nating pahirapan ang ating mga Boss.”

 

Senator Bam Aquino emphasized this plea as he reiterated his call to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares to suspend the imposition of penalties to taxpayers for failure to use its new electronic filing system.

 

“We should make things easier for our taxpayers, not make things difficult for them,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the BIR to cancel the imposition of penalties on taxpayers covered by the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) or Electronic BIR Forms (eBIRForms) who failed to file tax returns under the electronic systems.

 

The BIR issued the regulation on March 15, 2015 and it was published in a national daily two days later, giving taxpayers less than one month to comply with the new policy.

 

“The fines are not commensurateto the ‘offense’ of manual filing.  Saan ka nakakita, gusto na ngang magbayad, bibigyan mo pa ng multa,” he added.

 

Aside from this, Sen. Bam said the BIR personnel’s inability to explain the new procedures further adds to the taxpayers’ woes.

 

“The BIR local offices have conflicting statements on how to proceed, who are covered, determination of penalties, etc.  This creates uncertainty in our taxpayers which in turn lead to dissatisfaction.  Kahit yata sila nalilito how to implement this new policy,” Sen. Bam said.

 

Sen. Bam suggested that the BIR stick to the policy but extend the deadline for filing for another three months.

 

“The BIR also needs to ensure that their online system can handle the volume of downloads that will only increase in the next few days,” he said.

 

Sen. Bam also encouraged the BIR to establish online kiosks/stations at local BIR offices with personnel who will help input the returns of our taxpayers and teach them with new procedures.

 

“In this way,” Sen. Bam said, “BIR can fulfil its objective of migrating our taxplayers online, while dispelling any possible doubts and fears from our taxpayers on the new system.”

BIDA KA!: Game On!

Mga Bida, naging laman ng balita kamakailan ang nangyaring pagkaka-offload sa tatlong miyembro ng Team Rave, isang Pinoy cyber sports team na pumang-anim sa katatapos na DOTA 2 Asian Championships (DAC).

 

Bilang isang tagasuporta ng online video gaming industry, naalarma ako sa balita, lalo pa’t sa aking pagkakaalam ay nakatakda nang mag-training ang Team Rave para sa mga darating na international tournament.

Kaya sumulat tayo sa Bureau of Immigration (BI) at Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) upang alamin ang dahilan kung bakit pinigil ang pagbiyahe nina Mark “Cast” Pilar, Djardel “Chrissy” Mampusti at Ryo “ryOyr” Hasegawa patungong South Korea.

 

Nakatakda sanang mag-training sina Pilar, Mampusti at Hasegawa sa South Korea para sa mga darating na international tournament, kabilang ang dalawang event sa Bucharest, Romania.

 

Layon ng aking pagsulat sa BI at POEA upang malaman kung ano ang ugat ng problema at kung paano ito masosolus­yunan para wala nang maging aberya sa susunod nilang pagbiyahe.

 

Noong Martes, inimbitahan ng POEA ang tatlo upang alamin ang tunay na nangyari noong araw na pigilan ang kanilang biyahe sa South Korea.

 

Sa nasabing pulong, nalaman na nagkaroon din ng kakulangan ang tatlo sa pagsunod sa payo ng mga ahente ng BI na nagresulta sa pagpigil sa kanilang biyahe.

 

Sa pulong nila sa POEA, nagkaroon din ng linaw ang tunay na estado ng Team Rave kaya nabigyan na sila ng tamang papel at naliwanagan na sa wastong proseso sa susunod nilang pagbiyahe.

 

Nakakapanghinayang man na hindi sila nakasali sa dalawang torneo sa Bucharest ngunit nagsilbing pagkakataon ang pangyayari upang maiwasto ang kanilang sitwasyon at papeles para sa susunod nilang biyahe ay wala nang offloading na mangyayari.

 

Isa pa, mas mahaba-haba ang oras nila sa pag-eensayo bilang paghahanda sa malaking torneo na gagawin sa Estados Unidos sa Agosto.

 

Maraming salamat sa POEA sa ginawa nitong tulong na maitama ang estado ng ating cyber athletes. Saludo rin ako sa BI sa pagtitiyak na ang lahat ng umaalis at dumarating sa bansa ay may tamang papeles.

 

***

 

Mga Bida, marami ang nagtatanong sa akin kung bakit todo ang suportang ibinibigay ko sa lumalagong online ga­ming development industry ng bansa.

 

Malaki kasi ang potensiyal ng nasabing industriya na makakatulong sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa.

 

Marami nang kumpanyang Pilipino ang pumapasok sa industriyang ito, mula sa paggawa ng animation hanggang sa pag-develop ng software.

 

Ang katumbas nito ay daan-daang bagong trabaho at kabuhayan para sa ating mga kababayan.

Ang pagratsada ng industriyang ito ay katulad din ng paghataw ng business process outsourcing industry sampung taon na ang nakalipas.

 

Ito’y puno ng potensiyal para sa papasimulang negosyo at kayang magbigay ng magandang trabaho para sa mga artists at developers.

 

Sa galing ng mga Pilipino sa pagdidisenyo ng software, ang Pilipinas ay nagiging isa na sa mga paboritong destinasyon ng online video gaming companies para sa paggawa ng bagong produkto.

 

Maliban pa rito, kilala na rin ang mga Pilipino bilang isa sa mga aktibong manlalaro ng online games sa mundo.

 

Sa ngayon, mayroon nang halos 29 milyong Pilipino ang naglalaro ng online games. Sa nasabing bilang, nasa dalawampung milyon ang casual gamers habang nasa siyam na milyon ang tinatawag na midcore at hardcore gamer.

 

Kung mabibigyan ng sapat na suporta, lalo pang lalago ang potensiyal ng video gaming industry bilang pagmumulan ng trabaho at kabuhayan, maliban pa sa mga karangalan na gaya ng bigay ng Team Rave!

 

 

First Pubished on Abante Online

 

 

 

 

Bam: Tax exemption for PWDs and Families with Dependents

Senator Bam Aquino has filed the Amendments to the Magna Carta of PWDs, which provides PWDs and families with PWD dependents a yearly uniform P25,000 tax exemption, giving them a reprieve from the daily challenges they face.

In addition, PWDs will be exempted from value added tax, in addition to their regular personal deductions if the measure is enacted into law.

“The exemption will help augment PWDs and families with PWD dependents from their expenses, from wheelchairs, hearing aids, nurses and caregivers, and learning disability tutors, among others,” added Sen. Bam.

Explaining his bill, Sen. Bam said the PWDs have found it difficult to find employment and earn income for themselves and for their families.

Aside from this, they have also had to worry about their daily expenses for medicine and rehabilitation.

“Such accommodation for our PWD sector is part of our larger reform efforts in pushing for a society that is inclusive for the poor and most vulnerable sectors.  It is one of our courses in our journey towards achieving a fully abled nation,” the senator explained.

In his measure, Sen. Bam also hailed the contribution of the PWDs in shaping the country’s history and to the advancement of good governance.

eBIRForms Download Page

CLICK logo to download the eBIRForms Package

CLICK logo to download the eBIRForms Package

Project Background

In support of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s goal to achieve electronic filing of all taxpayers to capture tax returns data, improve efficiency and provide accurate statistical reports, the Indra and Philcox Joint Venture (JV) is implementing the Solution for the Use of eBIRForms for Filing Tax Returns.

 

BIR’s directions are to:

•   Improve filing efficiency

•   Increase channels to taxpayers

•   Maximize the use of new technologies

•   Capture data from third party solutions

•   Capture more returns data online and offline

•   Increase tax return data capture

•   Improve accuracy in statistical reporting

•   REACH EVEN THOSE WITH LIMITED INTERNET CAPABILITY

What is the eBIRForms Project?

 The eBIRForms project aims to develop a filing infrastructure to provide electronic submission channels to all taxpayers (non-eFPS users) that are accessible and convenient. It will make tax preparation easier through automatic computations and validation features, lessening human error.

 The eBIRForms aims to increase the electronic capture of data, lessening manual encoding for BIR, and increasing accuracy in statistical reporting.

What are the Benefits of using the eBIRForms?

– Saves time because of automatic computations and auto-populated fields

– Easy to use

– Lessens human errors because of the validation feature

– Available even to those without consistent internet connection

– Captures taxpayer data

NOTE: The BIR Forms in the eBIRForms package are not new forms. They are the existing BIR Forms in electronic format.

Step-by step Guide to e-BIRForms

Step 1: DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL the Offline eBIRForms Package through the following website and links;

Click to DOWLOAD

Click to DOWLOAD

Step 2: Select the form and FILL UP by encoding data in the ITR;

Step 3: VALIDATE after completely encoding all necessary information. You may still update/modify by clicking EDIT if needed, an indicate correct entries. Then click Validate again.

Step 4: Click FINAL COPY (This is not applicable for eFPS)

Step 5: SUBMIT the accomplished tax return. An email message will be received by the taxpayer. 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxpayers using the Offline eBIRForms Version 4.7.07 can easily submit the 2014 ITR via email, and subsequently enrol after eFiling. Thus, email submission of 2014 ITR is allowed whether enrolled or not to eBIRForms System.

 

 

 

 

 Source: BIR

 

Bam: Postpone Penalties under BIR’s eFPS, eBIR Systems

Senator Bam Aquino calls on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to defer the imposition of penalties on taxpayers covered by the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) or Electronic BIR Forms (eBIRForms) who failed to file tax returns under the electronic systems.

In his letter, Sen. Bam requested BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares to suspend imposition of penalties under Revenue Regulation No. 5-2015 until next year to give taxpayers ample time to become acquainted with the agency’s online facilities.

The BIR issued the regulation on March 15, 2015 and it was published in a national daily two days later.

“We are concerned with the short timeframe of less than a month given to taxpayers to transition to the new systems, given that the deadline for filing of income tax returns is on 15 April 2015 already,” Sen. Bam said in his letter.

Sen. Bam made the move after receiving several complaints from private sector partners regarding RR No. 5-2015.

Under RR No. 5-2015, all taxpayers mandatorily covered to file their returns using eFPS or eBIRForms, who fail to do so, shall be imposed a penalty of P1,000 per return pursuant to Section 250 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended.

In addition, the taxpayer shall also be imposed civil penalties equivalent to 25 percent of tax due to be paid, for filing a return in a manner not in compliance with existing regulations.

Moreover, Revenue District Offices are directed to include the non-compliant taxpayers in their priority audit program.

At the same time, Sen. Bam lauded the BIR for its effort to develop and institute a paperless tax filing and payment process through the eBIR and eFPS facilities.

“We believe that this will improve the Bureau’s tax return monitoring and make it easier for taxpayers to prepare, file and pay their tax returns,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam to BI, POEA: Explain Offloading of Cyber Athletes

Senator Bam Aquino wants the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to explain why they barred three Filipino cyber athletes from leaving for South Korea where they were slated to train and join several international competitions.

 

Team Rave’s Mark “Cast” Pilar, Djardel “Chrissy” Mampusti and Ryo “ryOyr” Hasegawa were barred from leaving due to alleged lack of proper travel documents.

 

“They have traveled several times to South Korea using the same documents they presented in the past without any hitch. Suddenly, they were barred from leaving without any valid reason,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 

“Worse, the offloading happened during a crucial time where they were scheduled to train for several big international competitions,” Sen. Bam added.

 

Sen. Bam said the offloading cost these cyber atheles a chance to join two events in Bucharest and to train for other upcoming competitions.

 

Team Rave recently placed sixth and bagged $150,000 in the recent DOTA 2 Asian Championships.

 

“Government should be able to provide an environment where our athletes, online or offline, be able to hone their skills, compete in world class competitions, and give honor and pride to our country,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

 

The office of Sen. Bam has been extending assistance to Team Rave as support for the growth of the community and development of the e-industry in the country.

 

“We will continue helping them in any way we can because we believe in their potential in bringing honor to our country,” Sen. Bam said.

 

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