MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – It seems like the Philippine government has waged an all-out war against its own citizens — especially overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and their families.
First, the Bureau of Customs announced new rules on balikbayan boxes, including opening them for inspection when they arrive at the Philippine port of entry. (Balikbayan boxes are those corrugated boxes used by OFWs to ship goods and gifts to their loved ones in the Philippines. Until recently balikbayan shipments have been tax-free. )
Today, Commissioner Kim Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced that dollar remittances from OFWs will be subject to a 35 percent ‘gift tax.’
The Philippines ranks as the fourth biggest recipient of remittances worldwide with an estimated $24-billion inflow annually, according to a World Bank (WB) study. Remittances accounted for 12 percent of the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the report said.
The Philippines trailed India , China and Mexico in terms of remittances received.
Henares said that the BIR is always looking for ways to earn tax revenue in order to sustain the Aquino administration’s anti-corruption policy of ‘Daang Matuwid’ (straight path).
“Strictly speaking, dollar remittances would be considered income for Filipino families and individuals on the receiving end of the money and should therefore be subjext to tax,” Henares said.
Updating: Henares Responds
The Adobo Chronicles 
Satire or not….crap like this just sheds more light on Bitcoin. I just transferred money to myself this week for less than P1.00. Virtual currency…It’s coming friends.
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does this include a u.s. pension coming into a Philippines bank
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Satire or no satire, this will give them an idea.
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nagulat rin ako na nakita ko tong headline na to.
remember this is a satire news site. di talaga totoo ang mga news dito.
🙂
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are they serious????? you gotta be kidding me!!!! ang kakapal ng mga mukha nyo taong gobyerno hindi na kayo nakuntento sa pagnanakaw nyo sa kaban ng bayan pati ba naman mga taong nagtitiis mawalay sa mga mahal nila sa buhay gusto nyo din pagnakawan?????? Akala ko ba bagong bayani ang turing nyo sa mga OFW?!?!?!?!
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THE ADOBO CHRONICLES is your source of up-to-date, unbelievable news. Everything you read on this site is based on fact, except for the lies.
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We’re not as dumb as you are Mrs. Henares…going against OFW and their families to sustain anti corruption policy to sustain daang matuwid. Are you kidding us! Don’t be naive, because we all know that you need this for campaign fund because election fever is coming. You need this to corrupt officials to endorse your bet this coming election….Please, make a refresh mind, and leave the OFW whom for more than 2 decades now are helping the Phils economy to stand….anyway since the presidency of abnoy, he’s not showing any care for us, notice his all SONA, have you heard any plans for OFW? None
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its a satire article…chillax! 😀
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if this came from another news / article, can you please provide the original source or link? hope this is not a sattire merely as publicity stunt. like other sites, original source or links are manifested at the bottom part of the article.
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satire.. its adobo chronicles! 😀
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To BIR (Philippines),
So if i send money in peso instead of dollar, there is no 35% additional tax right? Although, this will be in favor for the people with money exchange businesses in the market and so helping them to make more money which is good for them. On the contrary, it is evident that the target of this new rule announced by the commissioner of BIR are the OFW’s which will possibly be discourage to send dollar to the Philippines. I hope BIR will find a better way to earn more tax revenue like putting additional 35 % “bonus tax” to gambling businesses instead, since going to another country to work is much more honorable compared to putting up a gambling business if in case there is honor in gambling. Please, if additional tax revenue is needed, don’t shoulder it to OFW. OFW’s are not business man or business woman here, we are here to work as our own government can’t provide enough work for its own people. Most of us OFW’s are not even getting a good pay for a hard work that we do. Well, some may have a good work and earning a good money but many of us too are working hard just to have money to send back home hoping that our family will at least eat three times a day and for our children to have a better education. Again, we too, as OFW Filipino Citizens want to help our government by sending dollars to our love ones back there in our beloved country so that we will not have to rely or depend on what the government can give, thus we help the government too.
Pasinsiya nalang po kung mali-mali grammar.
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First time i read about taxing remittances to the Philippines!!! It’s not in the newspaper in the Philippines!!! I hope it is not true!!!
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