Smart, Customs tie up on use of cellphones for revenue collection

Smart Communications, Inc. has teamed up with the Bureau of Customs in developing the world’s first mobile phone-based billing and payment of duties and taxes.

Presented to President Arroyo by Customs Commissioner Titus Villanueva during the Bureau’s Centennial Day Celebration recently, the service is envisioned to support the government’s efforts in modernizing its cargo clearance and revenue collection processes through new technologies.

"Smart has always been supportive of promoting mobile technologies in modernizing governance. We are pleased to work with government agencies in providing mobile commerce applications, such as this billing and payments service that we are developing with the Bureau of Customs," Napoleon Nazareno, Smart president and CEO, said.

The billings and payments service, which is part of the bureau’s M-governance project, will be developed using Smart’s Mobile Commerce Platform and will utilize Smart Money, the internationally-recognized electronic cash card linked to a mobile phone. Smart Money, issued by the 1st E-bank of the Philippines, runs on Smart’s mobile commerce platform.

Through the mobile commerce platform, importers and brokers transacting with the bureau can file their import entry electronically either in their premises or at the BOC. They will then receive a text message regarding the applicable taxes and duties.

The importers and brokers will then request for a fund transfer from their bank account to their Smart Money card. The importer or broker can authorize mobile payment for taxes and confirm the transaction by keying in their PIN in their Smart mobile phone.

Once payment is completed, online release instructions from the BOC will be sent to the requesting importers and brokers.

The Smart Money payment process is envisioned to take less than five minutes without the importer or broker having to go the bank.

Through Smart’s mobile commerce platform, importers will be provided with a convenient and secure online facility to pay for duties and taxes, while improving the Bureau of Customs’ revenue collecting efficiency.