A CONSENSUS has been met by transport groups and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
On Tuesday morning, Reynaldo Bacoco of the United Metro Baguio Benguet Jeepney Federation said an agreement has been made with BIR-officer-in-charge Antonio Jonathan Jaminola to end the disputes in tax payments.
Bacoco said close to 300 operators of jeepney, UV Express and taxi cabs met with the BIR chief to come to terms for payment of P900 from 2015 to 2017.
“Maganda naman ang napag usapan namin. Very professional si Mr. Jaminola,” he said adding the agreement will be presented to the local city council on Monday, during its regular session.
The tax payment issue stemmed from a long standing order by the BIR mandating tax payments to be settled in a quarterly manner, which was not implemented in the city pushing operators to pay annually.
The bureau is slapping the groups with a fine amounting to P3,000 covering the two-year period which stakeholders refuse to pay alleging the impasse was the fault of the bureau.
Jaminola who assumed office in April said policies on quarterly tax payments from the transport sector have been in place since 1997 and is in the tax code.
Dialog between the BIR and the transport groups has since been brokered by the city council in a mediatory move to have a win-win solution for all.
Weeks ago, the BIR chief faced the council after transport groups asked the city to intervene what they believe is an irregular protocol in imposing penalties over payments made last year.
Initially, Jaminola offered to lower set payments to P1,500, representing one year, explaining the bargain is the sole concession allowed within his powers.
Bacoco said for payments made over the newly-agreed P900 payment, Jaminola will elevate the matter to the central office for resolution.