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MANILA, Philippines – “Did the country’s top celebrities pay the right taxes?”
The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) posed the question in its latest tax watch ad released Wednesday, April 29.
DOF said that while a 2013 Data Advisors (formerly Stratpolls Incorporated) survey identified 32 “most trusted endorsers,” 10 of these are not on the BIR top taxpayers’ list for taxable year 2013. The names of the 4 male and 6 female star endorsers are highlighted in the list provided by the DOF-BIR:
Yap, named Number 4 top male endorser (with a portfolio from fast food to insurance), is the latest brand ambassador of AVON.
TV host and comedian Sotto is the “most trusted male endorser” and ranked 52nd in the BIR top taxpayers’ list and visible nowadays in his Tide detergent powder commercials.
Teen star Kathryn Bernardo is the face of KFC’s latest rice meals’ offerings. She ranked Number 7 among “top female endorsers.” Top female endorser, Kris Aquino, sister of President Benigno Aquino III, ranked Number 16 on the BIR top taxpayers’ list.
The latest DOF-BIR tax watch ad also pointed out that 3 of 14 top endorsers named in Inquirer BusinessFriday’s 2013 survey – couple Carmina Villaroel (no. 8) and Zoren Legaspi (no. 9) and Marian Rivera (no. 12) – are also not on the BIR top taxpayers’ list.
In May 2014, Legaspi said that he was willing to cooperate with BIR in connection with the tax evasion charges filed against him.
The BIR filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal complaint against the actor for willful attempt to evade tax and deliberate failure to supply accurate information in his Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for years 2010 and 2012. The bureau sued Legaspi after it accessed documents showing the actor’s “true income.” The bureau examined Legaspi’s books of accounts and other accounting records and compared it with his ITRs filed before the BIR.
Legaspi and Villaroel, along with their twins, are multi-year endorsers of Selecta ice cream.
Rivera, meanwhile, is also endorsing a gamut of products and services, the latest being the 555 Tuna brand.
DOF-BIR also pointed out that there are only 39 celebrities included in the 2013 top taxpayers’ list as of November 2014.
Boxing champion Manuel “Pacman” Pacquiao led the list of top individual taxpayers for taxable year 2013 at P163.84 million ($3.70 million) income taxes paid.
“The biggest stars ought to shine the brightest. Not all of us are celebrities. Every one of us can be nation builders,” the tax watch ad stated.
DOF-BIR is encouraging the public to contribute to good governance by sending anonymous tips via www.perangbayan.com. – Rappler.com
US$1 = P44.25
Lists from DOF-BIR
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