While the BIR is looking at ways to implement “Influencer Tax“, and even asking YouTubers to comply by registering with them and paying the proper taxes, Sen. Raffy Tulfo calls out the agency for “targeting” vloggers and online sellers.
“If we are really serious in collecting taxes to maximize state revenues, is it not better if we would concentrate on the big fishes, and not on some small fry kasi nga po barya-barya lang po ang kinikita ng mga vlogger and online sellers,” Tulfo told members of the media during a Senate Hearing under the Ways and Means committee.
Tulfo further explained that he has received reports from vloggers and online sellers that underwent investigation by the BIR. While he understands that all income earners should pay the right taxes, he emphasized that the BIR should know its priorities.
Tulfo can relate to vloggers and online sellers, as he has his own YouTube channel that has more than 24 million subscribers as of this writing. Instead of vloggers, Tulfo suggests to the BIR that they should target oil smugglers instead.
Tulfo emphasized oil smugglers after revealing an alleged scheme where oil importers will not declare declare all oil drums for marking by the government–which signifies that the taxes for them are properly paid for under the TRAIN law.
