Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno said it is only fair to impose taxes on digital goods and transactions.
Digital goods and services refer products obtained through e-commerce platforms and streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify.
‘When you’re buying from regular stores, you include tax. So, why not include a tax on digital goods and services?’ Diokno said at a press briefing in Malacañang
Diokno previously said that online platforms can easily ‘evade’ paying the appropriate taxes unlike those with physical stores.
In addition, Diokno pointed out that most of those who use e-commerce sites and subscribe to audio and video streaming platforms can afford to pay an extra fee since they are more well-off.
“I think in the sense of fairness dapat pareho. Dapat magkaroon ng tax, especially medyo — if you really think about it ‘yung mga nakakaangat ang siyang nakakakuha ng mga ganyan, digital payment. So on the basis of fairness, I think they should be taxed,” he said.
President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his economic team face pressure to raise revenue to curb debt, which had ballooned due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, outgoing officials have warned against financing debt with additional borrowings. a
