Makati doctors target of new tax ad

In its Tax Watch advertisement released Thursday, June 17, the DOF said that in 2012, one out of 9 registered taxpayer doctors in Makati filed income tax dues “less than the average public school teacher.”

It also said that out of 1,798 taxpayer doctors in Makati, only 36% or 647 submitted their Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Form 1701 or the Annual Income Tax Return for Self-Employed Individuals, Estates, and Trusts.

Of those who submitted this form, 32.3% or 209 declared income tax dues less than P27,360 – a starting public school teacher’s income tax.

A certain doctor in Makati had a gross income of P3.718 million ($85,423.29*) in 2012, the DOF cited, but only declared an income tax due of P2,000 ($45.96*). 

“When you don’t pay your taxes, you’re a burden to those who do,” the ad read.

The DOF has zeroed in on self-employed and professionals in its Tax Watch ads, which are part of a name-and-shame campaign aimed at increasing tax compliance of individuals and corporations. At the bottom of each ad is a callout for individuals and groups to report cases of tax evasion, smuggling, extortion, neglect of duty, and other administrative offenses.

One of the DOF’s controversial ads showing a doctor riding piggyback on a teacher earned the ire of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). A word war ensued between the camps and soon after, BIR slapped then PMA head Leo Olarte with tax evasion charges.

After Olarte stepped down as PMA president, his successor Dr. Minerva Calimag appeared with BIR Commissioner Kim Henares in an April press conference to signify their reconciliation. Calimag urged her fellow doctors to diligently file their returns. The PMA and BIR also agreed to work on a website to help doctors better understand and compute their taxes. (Read: BIR, doctors’ group reconcile, call for filing of tax returns) – Rappler.com

*$1=P43.52