Tagum BIR’s messy tax collection scheme

Though not their catch, BIR taxmen in Davao del Norte, specifically RDO 112, proudly posted inside its office in Mankilam the “We gotcha ” poster of America’s most celebrated felon in his time, Al Capone.

If memory serves us right, it was when BIR’s Commissioner Kim Henares charged Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo and his wife, Angela, with evading taxes that the infamous Al Capone became the bureau’s model in hunting down untouchables.

In the 70’s, flower people cheered Hollywood movies which featured America’s saber-toothed anti tax-evasion law that made Capone a helpless King of the underworld during the 1920s. American media molded the image of the legendary Al Capone as the Big Guy in the hoodlum world who appeared untouchable no matter how heinous the crime he committed which included, among others, the infamous Valentine massacre. He shared the same league with those of the Sicilian mafiosis like Don Carlo Gambino and Carmine Galante, Mafia’s Capu de tuti cape (Boss of all bosses) in later decades.

But when most of US’s enforcement agencies, including the coat-and-tie guys of the FBI, failed to sack Capone for all the high crimes he masterminded and, or, committed, Federal Treasury agents entered the scene, pushed him to one corner and knocked the bloated ego off his head. Capone was finally convicted for large scale tax evasion charges while serving a six-month jail term for contempt of court.

That sent shiver into the spine of many underworld big names in the US especially in the state of Illinois, which, in the ensuing years, forced them to engage in legal businesses like public transportations, restaurants, hotels, banking etc. as fronts for all the dirty money they’d accumulated during their reign in their respective turf. Somehow, America’s serious tax drive, helped boost its tax collection.

And so, Capone’s story put Federal tax agents in limelight since then. The downside of it however was that many taxmen in the world were, wittingly or unwittingly, got contaminated instead by the bloated ego of Capone and took it as their own badge of dishonor.

Now, Filipino copycats in the BIR wants the public to believe that they really mean business in their tax campaign drive. Well, fine. After all, Filipino people now, unlike the previous administrations, seem a little considerate in paying what is due to the government. Thanks to President Aquino’s Daang Matuwid battle cry which at least gradually put the country in better shape and ship.

Taxpayers now are seeing where their taxes are going—No, I don’t mean to lead you into believing that all those giant billboards posted by crooks in the government are true. But when we see a president that is hell-bent in curbing corruption and who is setting examples for government people to emulate, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel appears to be really there. But of course, credit should be given to whom the credit is due. Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares’s no-nonsense tax collection schemes are really working, or so it seems. And so, taxes are getting paid, with most BIR district offices in the country exceeding its collection targets.

But wait a minute! Why the Revenue District Office of Tagum appears not so interested in accepting payments from taxpayers? What is this scheme?

As “ordered” by BIR personnel of RDO 112, taxpayers have to go to the banks accredited by BIR to accept payments. But do these BIR people have the idea that banks in Tagum are just too few to accommodate thousands of taxpayers? And are they aware that most banks assigned only one or two tellers to attend to the taxpaying public? Or are they aware that most late payments are partly because of the clogged-ups in this payment scheme? And do they consider the patience of taxpayers getting fed-up after hopping from one bank to another only to end-up being refused acceptance of their tax payments by bank personnel.

We’re not done yet with our queries. Here’s more, why those two RDOs in Davao City (RDOs 113 and 132) are busy as bees in accepting payments right inside their respective windows? Why is the BIR satellite office in Panabo City doing exactly the same thing with Davao City’s? Yes, BIR in Davao and Panabo cities also have the banks as their extended collection arms to help them in their tax collection targets. Extended collection arms, yes, but the main arms are right their inside the BIR’s office accommodating the taxpaying public with their tax dues.

What happen then to the main arms of the BIR in Tagum? What makes them busier than others? Are we having a lot of clandestine tax negotiations here that make usual tax payment here a burden?

Our point here is to get the revenue office here into realizing that they’re not dealing with Al Capone of Chicago. And I don’t mean to suggest ripping-off Al Capone’s poster inside the BIR’s office in Mankilam-- because I don’t see that as a good tool in tax collection for Philippine setting but rather a mere straightforward wall decoration that aids us to wander down memory lanes about American thugs in earlier days.  

Oh my! The taxpaying public ought to be treated fair and square. Personnel of the BIR who love to lecture the public on tax-payment, even conduct seminars in a classy hotel in Davao city should themselves take some refresher courses on how to deal with taxpaying public. I just happened to know some personnel (actually, only a few of them) at the BIR in Mankilam who prided themselves as SWOLLEN HEADS in the government. Raising their voices at poor taxpayers who insist on paying their tax duty at the BIR office is a daily occurrence there. Mga PT&Ts (Patoo-too) ug Perteng hilasa.

RDO 112 Manuel Trias must consider taking a review of his management style in his office. This messy collection scheme appears running against the current of tax collection. Put up an “accept payment” section inside the main BIR building in Mankilam and assign two to three personnel to man the job.  And please don’t give us the excuse of  “we do not have enough personnel” to do the works. That would be a silly alibi.

And at least once in a while, Trias should also check on the behavior of his subordinates just right outside his office room. Those swollen heads are actually empty in the inside with nothing more but decaying gray matters which the government should get rid of.. (eddierojo@interviewplainopinionblog)