Foreign donations tax-free if they come from accredited groups, govt says

Foreign donations -- whether from governments, non-profits, and Filipinos based abroad -- are exempt from Philippine taxes as long as the donors and recipients are accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This was announced by the Department of Finance (DOF) days after a report said that the country's tax bureau will tax private donations. The DOF is in the process of cutting the processing time for the release of donations to 24 hours from four to five days, the agency said in a statement. Documentary requirements have also been reduced "to the barest minimum," the statement said, adding that most of the paperwork will be rendered after the release of relief goods. More than 2,500 organizations are accredited and registered with the DSWD, it added. "Please inform us right away if anybody from the Bureau of Customs asked for any tax and duty payment on these imported relief goods from any organization," the DOF said. - GMANews.TV