PCAG, AOCG, boost Customs tax-take by P2 billion in 2021
TWO major service groups of the Bureau of Customs helped boost its revenue collection last year that enabled the agency to again overshoot its assigned revenue target of P617 billion by more than P29 billion.
In a report submitted to Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG) headed by Assistant Commissioner and BOC spokesperson, Atty. Vincent ‘Jett’ Maronilla, collected additional revenues totaling P1,522,216,793.42, based on 349 ‘ANLs’ (audit notice letters) sent to 349 consignees.
The final end-year collection reflected the upward trend in PCAG’s audit performance; already in the third quarter, the group had collected more than P497 million, bringing its year-to-date additional revenue to P1.037 billion.
The amount is 25 percent higher than PCAG’s actual collection from the previous year (2020).
The final end-year collection reflected the upward trend in PCAG’s audit performance; already in the third quarter, the group had collected more than P497 million, bringing its year-to-date additional revenue to P1.037 billion.
Maronilla added he is optimistic of collecting more revenues from their post clearance audits of shipments from previous years.
He noted that the PCAG is still pursuing 55 more demand letters from importers dating back to 2019 where the BOC expects to generate an additional P12.5 billion.
“These demand letters have become final and executory for failure of the audited importers to contest the same,” Maronilla explained.
He added the matter have been referred to the BOC Legal Service for filing of the necessary collection suit.
Under the country’s customs laws, PCAG is the BOC’s “last line of defense” in collecting legal revenues due to the government owing to the nature of its job of auditing or “reviewing” the tax payments of cleared shipments and compliance to customs laws of importers.
Under Section 1000 of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), all importers doing business with the BOC are mandated to keep all the records of their goods declaration and transaction for a period of 3 years, dating from their final payment of duties and taxes so these can be audited by PCAG.
In a separate report to Guerrero, Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG) Deputy Commissioner Atty. James Dy-Buco, said his group, thru the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD), generated more than P555.444 million thru public auction while also clearing the country’s major ports of some 2,407 overstaying containers.
“Public auctions resulted in the revenue generation of P555,443,841.75 in proceeds from 1,257 containers of assorted items such as rice, galvanized steel, among others,” Dy-Buco said.
On the other hand, 1,150 containers loaded with used clothing, foodstuff, used oil, used furniture and other valueless used articles were condemned or destroyed accordingly.
Dy-Buco also reminded the public that cargoes not withdrawn within the regulatory period of 30 calendar days from payment of duties, taxes, and other charges shall be deemed abandoned, unless covered by a duly issued alert order.
After the finality of the ‘Decree of Abandonment,’ the bureau has the authority to determine the proper disposition of abandoned cargoes, such as thru auction, condemnation or donation.
The AOCG’s disposition activities, the official added, also contributed to the ease of doing business in the country by eliminating port and yard congestion.
