Pacman highest taxpayer in 2013; Kris, Revillame, Sharon in top 500

MANILA, Philippines - International boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has taken a giant leap to emerge as the highest individual taxpayer for 2013, the Bureau of Internal Revenue reported.

Based on the BIR’s annual list of top 500 single taxpayers for 2013, Pacquiao paid the government P163.84 million in income tax or more than seven times the P22.38 million remitted the previous year. The amount was bigger than the combined tax payments made by the country’s billionaires.

In 2012, the boxing champ ranked 36th.

Despite the income tax payments made by Pacquiao, the BIR said the politician-boxer still owed the government more than P3 billion including penalties and surcharges.

At number two was Juanito Alcantara who shelled out P99.61 million in income taxes for 2013.

Top corporate lawyer Estelito Mendoza remained the third biggest individual taxpayer for paying an income tax of P73.18 million, 29 percent more than the P56.59 million paid the year earlier. He was followed by Reynaldo Chico who doled out P67.34 million in income tax.

Property tycoon Andrew Tan advanced seven notches to fifth with income tax payments of P67.18 million, 69 percent higher than the P39.6 million paid the previous year.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. president Lorenzo Tan placed sixth with tax payments of P60.9 million followed by logging and automotive magnate Jose Chavez Alvarez (P55.63 million).

Mercury Drug president Vivian Que Azcona, who was the top taxpayer in 2012, slid seven places to eighth, having paid P51.62 million. The amount was a huge drop from the P131.43 million settled the previous year.

Meralco president Oscar Reyes ranked ninth with income tax payments of P51.44 million while Insular Life chair and CEO Vicente Rafael Ayllon paid P50.1 million in income tax.

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang took the 12th spot, having paid P46.5 million. He was followed by UBS Philippines head Lauro Baja, who remitted P45.19 million in income tax.

The Zobel brothers – Jaime Zobel De Ayala and Fernando Zobel De Ayala – grabbed the 26th and 32nd slots with tax payments of P32.22 million and P29.69 million, respectively.

Telecommunications magnate Manuel V. Pangilinan ranked 27th, having paid P31.64 million in income tax. The amount settled was higher than the P24.67 million paid in 2012.

The country’s wealthiest Henry Sy Sr. ranked 85, after having remitted P19.87 million in income tax while his children Henry Sy Jr. and Teresita Sy settled P19.87 million and P16.27 million, respectively.

Banking and automotive tycoon George Ty clinched the 40th spot with tax payments of P26.29 million.

Ports and gaming tycoon Enrique Razon, meanwhile, claimed the 50th spot with tax payments of P22.88 million.

Tobacco and airlines tycoon Lucio Tan came in at 142nd with tax payments of P13.33 million.

Retailer Lucio Co placed 137th, having paid P13.68 million.

Among celebrities, Piolo Pascual was the top taxpayer with an income tax payment of P42.5 million followed by John Lloyd Cruz (P41.98 million) and President Aquino’s sister Kris Aquino who paid P40.48 million).

Other TV personalities that made it to the top 500 list were Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan (P39.05 million), Willie Revillame (P38.3 million), Anne Curtis (P28.24 million), Judy Ann Santos (P24.32 million), Sarah Geronimo (P16.12 million), Eugenio Abunda (P14.19 million), Derek Ramsay (P12.74 million), Charo Santos (P14.57 million), Angelica Panganiban (P12.07 million), Robin Padilla (P11.84 million), Luis Manzano (P8.86 million), Jessica Soho (P7.55 million), and Bong Revilla (P6.7 milllion).