A local trade organization of information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) firms on Thursday urged the government to reconsider a revenue regulation that imposes taxes on all cross-border services rendered by nonresident foreign corporations.
IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines, Inc. (IBPAP) chief operating officer Celeste Ilagan said they are “very concerned” about Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 5-2024, which the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) released in January, as it mandates a 25 percent withholding tax and 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on business entities providing cross-border services.
Article continues after this advertisement“It is a huge concern because it impacts the cost of doing business immensely,” Ilagan told reporters during a Zoom interview.
FEATURED STORIES BUSINESS National ID gives more Filipinos ‘face value BUSINESS BIZ BUZZ: Unwinding Gogoro … quietly BUSINESS Polvoron maker seeks P500 million capital for expansion“That has not been planned in the budget of the local business process outsourcing firms and has not been included in their contracts with their non-resident foreign corporation vendors,” she said further.
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Article continues after this advertisementThe IBPAP official also said they have joined other business groups in bringing the issue to the government’s economic czar, Secretary Frederick Go, and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the upper chamber’s committee on ways and means.
Article continues after this advertisement“They have listened to the arguments and they believe that there is basis to the arguments of the business sector. They are studying the RMC and we look forward to a quick resolution,” sad Ilagan.
Article continues after this advertisementBased on the RMC, taxable cross-border services include consulting services, IT outsourcing, financial services, telecommunications, engineering and construction, education and training, tourism and hospitality, and other similar services.
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Article continues after this advertisementIn April, Gatchalian filed the Proposed Senate Resolution No. 955 to study the measure in aid of legislation.
“We need to carefully review the issuances of the BIR, which implements laws and Supreme Court decisions. We must ensure that these issuances do not go beyond the law and Supreme Court decision,” Gatchalian said in a statement back then.
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