Lapeña claims tax credit certificates are a source of 'pasalubong' at BOC

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Wednesday said that tax credit certificates are a source of the "pasalubong" system at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The scheme involved a 3-percent to 7-percent cut in the tax credit certificates, Lapeña said during the resumption of the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the P6.4- billion shabu shipment that slipped through the BOC green lane,

"Two to three weeks ago, I started receiving bundles of folders for tax credit certificates and I signed it ... It has been processed, it is legitimate and then is signed and released," he said.

"Another week—third week—there were the same bundles of these folders for this tax credit certificate. And last week, a concerned personnel came to my office and told me that ... it's the source of the paslaubong," Lapeña noted.

The Customs commissioner noted that tax credit certificates are a form of tax refund for big companies.

"It could be the excess payment of tariff or duties ... or refund due to cancellation of imports, or VAT input, or output tax that has to be refunded back to the company, Lapaña said.

The certificates are then consolidated but remain within the bureau.

After the certificates have been processed, "the tax refund happens when a new commissioner is designated," the commissioner emphasized. — VDS, GMA News