Gatchalian eyes zero contact payment of taxes

MANILA, Philippines — To protect taxpayers from harassment by abusive tax collectors, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is aiming for the passage of a zero contact tax payment mechanism.

Speaking at the recent Kapihan sa Manila Bay weekly media forum, Gatchalian said it is about time legislators focus on giving ease to taxpayers by shielding them from harassment and corruption.

Under his proposal, tax payment processes will be made easier for the self-employed and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since both sectors are prone to abusive tax collectors.

He stressed that big taxpayers do not have a problem in settling their tax obligations, unlike the self-employed and MSMEs.

“Those self-employed and MSMEs, they can be easily harassed, so this proposed measure is meant to shield them from abusive tax collectors,” said Gatchalian, who heads the Senate committee on ways and means.

Unlike the no contact apprehension policy (NCAP) of traffic violators which seems to deprive motorists of due process of law, the senator said his proposed measure for a zero contact tax payment mechanism curbs opportunities for corruption in settling tax dues.

Gatchalian said that by avoiding human intervention or physical contact between taxpayers and tax collectors, there will be no opportunity for tax collectors to demand grease money from the earning public.

“This concept is spread on many government activities, like traffic apprehensions, application for building permits. That’s why many governments around the world are implementing no contact policy to eliminate negotiations,” he noted.