Taxis can start issuing receipts in June

CEBU, Philippines - Taxi units may already start issuing receipts next month.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Alberto Suansing announced yesterday that taxi units should report to their office starting June 1 to have their meters received and bring along with them a cash registry machine or meter issuing receipt.

Suansing, who attended yesterday’s Cebu City Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Studies Coordination Conference, said the installation of cash registry machines will start with taxi units that have plate numbers ending in 1 and 6. The rest of the taxi units will have to follow the schedule.

He admitted it is an additional cost to operators but maintained that the implementation of the new measure is for the better good.

He said taxi operators should not complain that they could not afford the cost of the CRM because it is a ground for the revocation of their franchise.

“Pag mag-complain sila di sila ka afford, then it is now a question on their financial capability to operate a transport system,” Suansing said.

He said the agency is not requiring any brand of the receipt issuing machine for as long as it passed the standards of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Suansing said the implementation of the new scheme is actually responsive to the call of the BIR to help them tax the taxi operators, referring to the latter as an “underground economy.”              The implementation of the new system is seen to raise an additional P1.2 billion revenue for the government.

There are about 47,000 taxis nationwide that are registered with the LTFRB, based on the June 2006 records of the BIR.

BIR pointed out that the government is losing the same amount as taxi operators only remit the ceiling required under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), under which common carriers such as jeepneys, buses, and taxis are subject to percentage tax equivalent to three percent of their quarterly gross receipts.

Taxis plying major routes in Metro Manila and other cities are required to pay three percent of their minimum quarterly gross income of P3,600 while those in the provinces are taxed three percent of P2,400.

By issuing meter receipts, the BIR would be able to document and monitor the earnings of operators.

At the same time, the passengers will also be protected from abusive drivers and will have proof of any claims against them. – Ferliza C. Contratista and Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)