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The Interviewer Presents Mon Abrea - @TaxWhizPH
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The Interviewer Presents Mon Abrea - @TaxWhizPH Raymond Abrea, CPA, MBA is the Co-Chair of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Task Force on Paying Taxes. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Accountancy at San Beda University and finished his Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Ateneo de Manila University. With the TaxWhizPH mobile app as his brainchild to make tax compliance easier and simpler, he was recognized as one of the 2017 Outstanding Young Persons of the World, 2016 Digital Mover, one of 2015 The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM), an Asia CEO Young Leader in recognition of his tax advocacy and expertise, and recipient of the Metrobank Foundation’s Award for Continuing Excellence and Service. Currently, he is the Founding Chairman and Chief Tax Advisor of the Asian Consulting Group (ACG) – the Philippines’ first Tax Hub for top corporations, SMEs, and celebrities in the Asia-Pacific, and founding Trustee of the Center for Strategic Reforms of the Philippines (CSR Phil
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00:00.0
Hi people of the Philippines and people of the world.
00:27.4
Hit the button below and you will be subscribing to the Boy Abunda Talk Channel on YouTube.
00:34.8
Let's keep talking.
00:36.8
Kaibigan, tuloy ang usap.
00:43.5
Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.
00:46.7
Welcome to The Interviewer.
00:48.3
Ginagawa ko natin ito taon-taon.
00:50.8
Mona Brea, The Taxways, and I do this conversation yearly.
00:57.0
Para makatulong sa ating mga kababayan, maunawaan ang ilang mga bagay na may kinalaman po sa buwis.
01:05.5
And right now, we're about to do this interview.
01:08.0
Kasama po natin si Ms. Mon Abrea.
01:11.2
Mon, maraming salamat muli sa iyong pagsama sa atin dito sa The Interviewer.
01:17.1
Diretso na tayo sa mga katanungan para wala na tayong paligoy-ligoy pa.
01:21.6
Kinuha namin ang matanong na ito sa iba't-ibang kaibigan na nais,
01:27.0
kinalaman ang mga kasagutan sa mga katanungan ito na may kinalaman sa buwis sa taxation
01:34.9
na sigurado akong masasagot ni Ms. Mon Abrea.
01:39.1
So punta na tayo dun sa unang question.
01:41.9
Mon, sabihin mo sa amin at ikwento mo sa amin yung recently concluded
01:46.9
2024 International Tax and Investment Conference
01:51.8
at saka yung mga key takeaways mula dito sa conference.
01:57.0
I should say it was a huge success and thank you to all our partners
02:02.2
kasi ito yata yung first time na we saw all our government leaders,
02:06.5
the regulators themselves, in one venue.
02:09.7
And more importantly, nandun yung ating mga foreign chambers na partners
02:13.4
and sila kasi yung katulong natin to spread the word
02:18.2
that Philippines is their investment destination
02:21.1
and how's the experience doing business in the Philippines.
02:23.9
Ito yung mga key takeaways.
02:23.9
Importante kasi ito boy na alam,
02:27.0
mayroon nagsasabi o nagpapatunay na maayos, masagaan na
02:32.1
at kumikita ang negosyo sa Pilipinas na nababawasan na ang korupsyon,
02:36.6
ang birokrasya at hindi biro ito kasi sa lahat ng bansa naman issue yan.
02:40.8
Huwag tayong masyadong idramatize yan.
02:42.7
Hindi ito isolated sa Philippines.
02:44.5
So para sa akin yung conference naging pagkakataon
02:47.2
para mapag-usapan yung mga mahalaga para sa ating mga investors,
02:51.3
lalo na yung foreign investors.
02:53.9
But at the same time, narinig natin yung mga plano
02:57.0
mga prioridad ng ating government leaders
03:00.9
particularly yung mga regulators na pinupuntahan o kinakausap
03:04.9
o kailangan ng mga negosyante kapag nag-invest sila sa Philippines.
03:08.4
So moving forward, may nabuong partnership
03:10.9
nagkaisa ang lahat that we will make it happen in the Philippines.
03:14.6
Sana, bas patuloy natin makita yung mga pagbabago
03:18.1
kasi hindi lang naman para sa mga foreign companies yan.
03:21.0
Siyempre pati yung mga domestic, yung mga Pilipino makikinabang din
03:24.3
pag wala ng red tape, pagka na-address na yung birokrasya,
03:27.0
at talagang nagkaroon ng mas mabilis na proseso
03:30.5
or sinasabi nga natin automated para instant na lahat
03:34.2
hindi na mag-aantay ang ating mga kababayan.
03:38.4
Here's another question.
03:40.6
Why did you decide to involve international organizations
03:44.1
like the World Bank, OECD, IMF,
03:48.0
and the International Tax and Investment Center
03:51.0
based in Washington, D.C.?
03:54.2
Bakit mo?
03:55.4
Minsan kasi mahirap.
03:56.8
Magbahagi ng pangarap.
03:58.5
It's hard to share a dream if people don't share it.
04:01.5
So, mas madali kapag meron ng success story.
04:05.6
Mas madali kapag meron mga international experts
04:09.5
or ibang tao na magsasabing that works.
04:12.4
So, sa akin, after Harvard, ang narealize ko,
04:15.2
ang daming common problems na iba't ibang bansa,
04:17.7
masyado lang talaga natin dinadramatize yung problema sa Pilipinas.
04:20.7
Whether it's corruption, bureaucracy, cause of doing business,
04:26.8
election, politics, hindi naman sa peculiar sa Philippines.
04:31.9
Pero, ang nakita ko, may mga best practices din.
04:35.1
So, I guess, working with the international organizations
04:37.4
will give more value or we can leverage on it
04:41.9
para mas makuha natin yung attention at supporta ng mga senador,
04:46.4
ng ating mga policy makers,
04:48.2
and hopefully, mas ma-implement siya
04:50.7
para yung sinasabi nga natin, pangarap for a better Philippines, matupad.
04:55.2
Ako personally, naniniwala ako.
04:56.8
Ako, hindi na third world country ang Pilipinas,
04:59.6
pero third world country tayo mag-isip, kahit yung mga pinuno natin.
05:03.4
And kung ito mababago, mula sa mga kabataan, estudyante,
05:07.1
manggagawa, botante, at syempre sana,
05:10.6
yung ating mga pinuno sa gobyerno, lalo na yung mga gumagawa ng batas,
05:15.1
baka, baka nga talaga magiging first world na,
05:18.2
or kung hindi man, at least hindi na talaga masyadong third world
05:21.5
or middle income class na ang ating mga mamayan.
05:25.7
Nasa mindset pa.
05:26.8
Plus, dumating sana yung pagkakataon na dahil nagbe-benchmark na tayo,
05:31.7
dahil nagko-collaborate na tayo sa international organizations,
05:34.8
makita din natin na may galing tayo, hindi tayo naiiwan.
05:37.9
Again, one of the things I've realized when I studied in Harvard is,
05:43.4
we're actually one of the best.
05:45.4
I mean, not personally, but I honestly think na ang dami natin mababahagi sa mundo.
05:50.3
Hindi lang tayo yung magbe-benchmark, may matututunan din sila sa Pilipinas at sa mga Pilipino.
05:55.0
How about the foreign chambers?
05:59.2
Why engage with them?
06:02.3
Eh, nandito na sila sa Pilipinas.
06:05.3
Bakit pa kinakailangan i-engage mo sila?
06:08.8
Una, mas pinakikinggan sila ngayon.
06:11.4
Kasi dahil nga ang prioridad ng Pangulo is i-increase talaga yung foreign direct investments.
06:16.6
Sa tingin ko, yung mga foreign chambers kasi yung mas pinakikinggan ng mga foreign companies
06:21.9
or yung mga kumpanya mula sa bansa na nila,
06:24.0
sila yung unang kinakausap bago tayo mga Pilipino or yung Philippine government.
06:29.0
Pangalawa, mas may boses din sila pagdating sa mga policies dahil sila'y nililigawan eh.
06:35.2
So, if we work with the foreign chambers at ma-share din natin yung mga ideas natin
06:39.2
at nakita nila, oh nga no, mas maganda nga yan, ah okay yan.
06:42.6
So, I think yung collaboration na yan, mas mapapabilis yung mga pagbabago
06:47.3
o yung pag-adapt nito mga proposals natin.
06:50.2
So, working with the foreign chambers is also good for them.
06:53.4
Because,
06:54.0
right now, medyo theoretical pa yung rolling out the red carpet eh.
06:58.3
Pero, if the foreign chambers will ascertain or will confirm na talagang may mga changes
07:03.7
and these positive changes are all improving ease of doing business in the Philippines,
07:08.6
sa tingin ko, lahat tayo makikinabang.
07:11.7
Here's the fourth question.
07:13.5
Ito, actually, katanungan ng isang kaibigan ko.
07:16.3
Sabi niya,
07:17.8
Mr. Abrea, nakita ako that you also launched a book during the conference.
07:24.0
At ang pamagatang libong ito ay,
07:26.7
Why Invest in the Philippines?
07:30.0
That's your new book.
07:31.5
Can you give us an overview and explain how it differs from other books about investing?
07:42.3
Well, madalas na napapublish is yung ease of doing business,
07:46.7
which is, ine-echo niya kung ano yung nasa batas natin na ease of doing business.
07:50.6
Pero, parang, andaming agam-agam ng mga,
07:54.0
foreigners, there are many doubts or inhibitions.
07:57.6
Why foreign investors will go to Vietnam, Thailand, or other countries instead of the Philippines?
08:02.9
Or, why they will allocate only a few dollars or a percentage of their investments in the Philippines?
08:10.5
Sa tingin ko, we need to answer why they should invest in the Philippines
08:13.9
rather than just keep talking about our law.
08:16.7
So, why invest in the Philippines is divided into four chapters.
08:19.5
The first one is really making it clear,
08:22.7
solidifying all the,
08:23.9
economic facts.
08:25.0
Not from our Philippine government alone,
08:27.4
pero galing mismo sa World Bank,
08:29.2
sa IMF,
08:29.9
or as I've been mentioning,
08:32.4
in collaboration with the international organizations and foreign chambers.
08:35.9
Bakit Pilipinas?
08:37.0
So, it's sort of like a tourism book nga eh,
08:38.9
because we practically feature not just the best,
08:42.0
but also the futuristic and the beautiful sights in the Philippines.
08:47.3
Kasi, without us realizing,
08:49.1
tourism is actually a huge industry as well.
08:51.8
And marami sa ating mga foreigners,
08:53.9
kaya nila naisip magnegosyo or even mag-asawa dito sa Pilipinas
08:58.8
dahil sa Boracay, sa Palawan.
09:00.9
And I think, we should not be ashamed of that.
09:03.0
That's the gateway.
09:04.1
Kung tayo ay nakilala dahil dito sa mga beautiful beaches na to,
09:08.2
the next thing is, malaman nila kung gaano kagaling, kabait, kaganda mga Pilipino,
09:13.5
then, maganda rin magnegosyo sa Pilipinas.
09:16.4
So, I think it's a good gateway.
09:18.5
And pangalawa is, we talk about definitely the ease of doing business,
09:22.7
pero, hindi na yung business.
09:23.9
Ano na yung batas? Ano na yung nangyari?
09:25.5
What are the e-government services or how are the different regulators or government agencies
09:30.4
implementing this ease of doing business?
09:32.9
And how can we actually use it?
09:35.4
Kasi, yung libro, interactive siya.
09:37.1
There are several QR codes where you can already apply
09:39.6
or process your registration or your tax identification number
09:43.5
because it will direct you to the official government websites
09:48.0
by just browsing the book.
09:49.9
So, ganun siya ka-interactive.
09:51.2
Then, yung pangatlo, very important, siyempre,
09:53.9
is ano yung mga buwis na babayaran, pero may incentives.
09:59.6
So, we talk about tax incentives as a flagship program or offer of the Philippines,
10:05.4
especially to our foreign investors, na it's very competitive.
10:10.0
And yung pangapat, importante siya kasi tulad na sinabi ko,
10:13.0
meron ng international collaboration or cooperation.
10:16.9
We are already a signatory ng OECD inclusive agreement.
10:19.8
So, ibig sabihin, may mga changes na mangyayari
10:21.9
and we want to show the world that we are adaptable.
10:23.9
We are adapting, that there are still several tax reform proposals in the pipeline
10:29.3
and these are all good.
10:30.6
This will all help improve doing business in the Philippines
10:33.7
and hopefully cut the cost of doing business in the Philippines.
10:37.5
So, the book will serve as guide to every foreign investor
10:41.1
and anyone who would consider doing business in the Philippines.
10:44.6
And if they still have doubts, hopefully after browsing the pages of the book,
10:48.8
mawala yung doubts nila.
10:49.9
Kasi nga, Why Invest in the Philippines is a guide
10:52.7
in investing in the Philippines.
10:53.8
It's not just selling Philippines,
10:57.1
but it's helping you invest and do business in the Philippines.
11:00.7
So, hopefully you can grab a copy.
11:03.1
Okay, Mon,
11:06.2
after visiting more than 50 states, countries, and regions,
11:12.6
you just started the next 15 countries
11:16.0
with the East Asia Cluster this year's roadshow.
11:22.4
Anong mga bayan?
11:23.6
Anong mga bansa ang included in your 2024 International Tax and Investment Roadshow?
11:31.6
Una, sa dami ng bansa na napuntahan ko and states sa US,
11:37.0
mas personally and honestly, mas minahal ko yung Pilipinas.
11:41.6
I love the Philippines even more.
11:45.2
At siguro isa ako dun sa mas na-enjoy makita yung ibang bansa
11:52.2
kasi alam ko yung babalik.
11:53.6
Ang kumbansa, mas gusto ko.
11:55.1
Mas dun ko gustong tumira.
11:57.0
Mas dun ko gusto na magkapamilya, mag-retire.
12:00.9
Kasi alam ko, maganda siya talaga.
12:03.5
And sa akin lang, ang sinasabi lang nung roadshow is
12:09.0
we need to spread this.
12:10.7
We need to share this to everyone.
12:12.7
And through our International Tax and Investment Roadshow,
12:15.7
we want every citizen in the world to know the Philippines.
12:19.9
Not just as their investment destination,
12:21.6
but a happy place.
12:23.6
A place to find peace, to find love,
12:27.4
to find an investment opportunity.
12:31.7
And dun sa roadshow this year,
12:34.5
it's really to support the government promoting the Philippines
12:37.1
as an investment destination.
12:38.7
So we started already sa East Asia.
12:41.1
We went to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan,
12:45.3
and we're leaving for Korea.
12:48.1
Then afterwards, in April, we'll go to US.
12:52.1
So New York, San Francisco,
12:53.6
Los Angeles, and of course, Washington, D.C.
12:56.6
Then of course, Europe.
12:58.1
So Europe, we'll start sa Madrid, Spain,
13:01.7
sa Berlin, Germany.
13:04.5
Then we'll also go to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
13:09.3
Then Paris, France,
13:11.9
Bern, and Geneva, Switzerland.
13:14.7
At sa dami niya, iniisip ko kung may nagkulang.
13:16.8
And of course, London, United Kingdom.
13:19.0
Importante din sa mag-aaral ako dun.
13:20.9
So mag-stay din ako dun for a while.
13:22.3
Then of course,
13:23.2
we'll go back to the Philippines for a while
13:25.5
for a series of meetings.
13:26.8
Then we go to Australia, Canada,
13:28.7
and finally, Middle East.
13:29.9
So ano ang objective natin?
13:31.2
Simple lamang po.
13:32.4
Of course, it's to support the government
13:34.8
in promoting the Philippines
13:35.9
as your smart investment destination.
13:38.3
But more importantly,
13:39.7
tulad nung sinabi ng libro,
13:41.2
why invest in the Philippines?
13:42.5
We want to guide them.
13:44.0
We want to make sure na we don't just market the Philippines.
13:47.1
But we assist every foreign investor,
13:49.6
anybody who's interested to do business in the Philippines.
13:52.0
Or more importantly,
13:53.2
yung mga nagninegosyo na pero nagkakaproblema
13:55.9
or parang gusto nang umalis.
13:59.3
We want to reassure them that things will be better.
14:03.0
And this is not just a promise.
14:04.8
Kasi pagbalik ko after ng Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan,
14:07.9
I went straight to the Senate.
14:09.3
I reported to the Senate Ways and Means
14:11.2
through Senator Wingachal Yan.
14:13.1
Then pinuntahan ko din ng DOF.
14:15.1
I met with Yusef Carlo.
14:17.1
Not to brag about the roadshow,
14:19.5
but to tell them the insights,
14:20.6
the feedback that we got from our foreign companies.
14:23.3
And investors.
14:24.0
So, ang ganda nung collaboration.
14:25.6
Kasi ako din ang dahil ko natutunan.
14:27.3
And at the same time, na-realize ko,
14:29.4
I really love the country.
14:31.8
Kasi I can really talk about with so much honesty.
14:34.3
But at the same time, without sugarcoating the problem,
14:36.8
when they talk about VAT refund,
14:38.3
sabi ko, exactly what's the problem with VAT refund?
14:41.1
Okay, what are you expecting?
14:43.0
Then, I reported it back to the Senate,
14:45.6
then to DOF.
14:46.4
And we talk about possible resolution.
14:48.6
So, ano siya?
14:49.7
May mangyayari.
14:50.4
Hindi siya yung parang namasyal ka lang.
14:52.5
Or,
14:52.7
nambola ka lang,
14:54.7
nambudol ka lang,
14:55.5
tapos bahala sa ilo sa buhay nila.
14:57.1
So, I guess,
14:57.8
the roadshow really is a manifestation of our commitment
15:01.9
to promote the Philippines as an investment destination.
15:04.1
But, more importantly,
15:05.6
it's very much aligned with our advocacy,
15:08.1
which is to promote tax reform.
15:10.1
A simple, fair, and efficient tax system na
15:13.2
ang nagbabayad yung mas malaki ang kita.
15:15.3
Yung mga iyayaman at mas malaki ang kita,
15:17.1
sila'y dapat yung mas malaki ang bayaran.
15:19.0
At yung pinangakuan natin ng incentive,
15:21.3
wag naman nating takbuhan,
15:22.4
o taguan,
15:23.1
talagang ibigay natin.
15:24.2
So, for me, there's still hope.
15:26.8
Ang mahalagay is mas maraming nag-open na opportunity.
15:29.2
So, this roadshow is a way to tell the world
15:32.4
how beautiful and how much promising
15:35.4
the Philippines is as an investment destination.
15:38.2
Ano ba mon ang goal,
15:39.7
ang target,
15:40.7
ng mga roadshows na ito?
15:44.0
Paano naman tinanggap ito ng Singaporeans,
15:46.7
Malaysians,
15:48.0
at ng mga Hapon?
15:50.6
I mean, itong mga,
15:51.9
itong roadshow na ito.
15:53.2
Honestly, they were very happy, number one,
15:55.5
because most of them either met the president
15:58.5
or they learned that our president went to their country.
16:02.9
It made actually a very huge impact.
16:05.7
I never realized that
16:06.8
because like other critics,
16:08.2
we're just thinking,
16:09.6
oh, it's just going around.
16:10.8
But it was making an impact.
16:12.7
Then at the same time,
16:13.6
as I have mentioned in one of my statements,
16:16.2
it's unfair to just say that
16:18.2
it's a waste of money.
16:20.1
Maybe we can look at the budget.
16:21.6
I mean,
16:21.9
that's part of making our government accountable.
16:25.2
But to literally dismiss the impact
16:29.1
or the value of it,
16:30.5
because the embassy,
16:31.5
the Philippine Trade and Investment Center,
16:33.4
the OWA,
16:34.5
the Labor Attaché,
16:35.2
they are all working hard
16:36.5
in every presidential visit
16:38.1
and in every trade mission.
16:39.7
So para ang sa akin,
16:41.1
it's important that we just do our part and support it.
16:43.7
And through our roadshow,
16:45.1
I realize how much impact
16:47.2
it has created already,
16:48.7
at least in the first three countries,
16:50.6
Singapore, Malaysia,
16:51.5
and Japan.
16:52.6
They really value so much
16:54.3
that the president went to their country.
16:56.8
And let's not forget,
16:58.5
in the next month,
17:00.1
the president will go back to the US
17:01.6
to have a trilateral meeting.
17:03.4
Japan, US, and Philippines.
17:05.4
So imagine all these things.
17:06.7
Not just economic,
17:07.6
even defense.
17:08.7
So I think it's also important
17:10.7
that we make all the countries
17:12.9
or the world know
17:13.9
that the Philippines will not bow down
17:16.0
or will not give up our democracy,
17:17.8
our sovereignty.
17:18.3
And anything that is Philippines,
17:21.5
should be enjoyed by Filipinos.
17:23.1
And those who want to invest in our country,
17:25.2
they should follow our laws
17:26.2
so that they will also benefit
17:27.7
from whatever it offers.
17:30.5
What are the usual concerns
17:32.4
of foreign investors?
17:35.2
Ibig sabihin,
17:35.8
pag nagro-roadshow, Mon,
17:37.8
ano yung mga tanong,
17:39.4
ano yung mga agam-agam
17:40.7
ng mga foreign investors?
17:43.3
Battery fund.
17:44.0
Battery fund.
17:44.8
Battery fund.
17:45.6
And all this battery fund,
17:46.9
seriously,
17:48.3
battery fund is first.
17:49.9
Kasi like in Japan,
17:51.5
did you know,
17:53.4
ito boy,
17:54.0
na Japanese
17:54.8
or the Japanese companies
17:56.9
is actually the number one locators.
17:59.2
So more than 50%
18:01.0
ng mga investments
18:01.9
or companies na nasa eco-zones
18:03.9
are actually Japanese.
18:05.6
So different industries.
18:08.6
So sila yung may mga battery fund
18:10.6
kasi nga kasama yun sa in-offer natin
18:13.1
na fiscal incentives.
18:14.8
And yet, medyo matagal
18:17.2
o hindi na-approve.
18:18.5
So may problem.
18:19.8
And that's something that we're now discussing.
18:21.5
With the Senate
18:22.5
and Ways and Means
18:23.7
and the Department of Finance.
18:25.9
Hindi naman siya hopeless.
18:27.1
Ang maganda lang dun is,
18:28.5
eye-opener na
18:29.4
na alam na siya.
18:31.2
Para na siyang ano,
18:32.3
ang mga marites kumakalat na.
18:33.8
So it's important that our government
18:35.2
takes this seriously.
18:37.1
And that the President
18:38.0
will have to dip his hand already
18:40.4
and do something about it.
18:41.8
Nasaan ang red carpet
18:42.6
kung yung battery fund di marilis?
18:44.3
So I think
18:45.0
it's important that we make sure
18:47.5
they are qualified.
18:48.6
But let's not make them wait forever.
18:50.3
Especially if it takes years.
18:51.5
I think that's so much costly.
18:54.0
It becomes too costly
18:55.2
for foreign investors to bear that.
18:57.7
So battery fund is one.
18:59.3
Number two, siyempre,
19:00.3
they're still very cautious
19:02.5
of the BIR audit.
19:04.3
I think we really need to automate it.
19:06.7
Let's avoid
19:07.8
or let's stop all this random,
19:09.9
unnecessary, huge assessment
19:11.5
na in the end naman nine-negotiate
19:13.7
o wala naman nakakolekta.
19:14.9
So let's not give that impression
19:17.1
to our foreign companies or investors
19:18.9
na we are not honest.
19:20.6
Because they know,
19:21.5
Filipinas are honest.
19:22.6
So the last one is corruption.
19:23.9
That's why
19:24.2
I think most of them
19:26.8
welcome us
19:28.3
because they either learn about
19:30.6
the book that we published previously,
19:32.8
Reimagining the World Without Corruption.
19:34.6
And that was also launched
19:35.6
at the Harvard Kennedy School.
19:37.6
So it gives so much credibility to us
19:39.9
promoting the Philippines
19:41.0
that we are not sugarcoating it.
19:42.7
We want to address corruption.
19:44.7
We will not tolerate corruption.
19:46.4
But at the same time,
19:47.2
we don't want businesses
19:48.1
to cheat or evade taxes.
19:49.7
We want to guide them
19:50.7
so that they can get out of it.
19:51.4
So that they can also
19:52.0
comply and pay the right taxes.
19:54.3
So yeah,
19:55.4
there are,
19:56.1
these issues are very important
19:57.6
for the foreign investors.
19:59.5
But honestly,
20:00.2
it's not much of the taxes.
20:01.8
It's really more of the issue
20:03.0
of doing business.
20:04.2
Because taxes,
20:05.1
relatively,
20:05.7
halos lang pare-pares na yan,
20:07.0
especially with the incentives.
20:08.5
So at the end of the day,
20:09.8
sino yung pinaka-mabilis,
20:10.7
kanino yung pinaka-efficient,
20:11.8
kanino yung pinaka-matipid
20:14.1
magnegosyo.
20:15.1
That's why they're going
20:15.8
to Vietnam,
20:16.7
Thailand.
20:17.5
So I guess,
20:18.2
that's a wake-up call
20:19.3
for the Philippines.
20:20.0
Because our neighboring countries,
20:21.4
obviously,
20:22.5
are offering better.
20:24.2
So we need to further improve.
20:26.9
This is our eighth question.
20:29.1
How do you assess
20:30.3
the status
20:31.8
of our tax system?
20:34.8
I would say
20:35.7
there were so many improvements,
20:37.5
especially in the last
20:38.3
two administrations.
20:39.6
Particularly,
20:40.5
last administration
20:42.0
under Commissioner Dulay
20:43.1
because they initiated
20:44.3
so much digital transformation.
20:46.5
Ang feeling ko lang,
20:47.6
the strategy is good,
20:49.0
but there was no budget.
20:50.5
And there's still
20:51.4
no budget.
20:51.4
And when I say budget,
20:53.4
huge budget.
20:54.6
I feel like the Congress
20:56.1
demands so much
20:57.0
or expects so much
20:57.8
or we expect so much
20:59.0
from BIR.
20:59.9
But they have less than what?
21:01.1
10 billion budget
21:02.0
to collect
21:03.2
4 trillion,
21:06.2
5 trillion revenue.
21:07.9
So,
21:08.3
ang feeling ko,
21:08.8
we need to really
21:09.6
fund it.
21:10.8
And I'm more hopeful now
21:12.2
because of the
21:12.9
ease of paying taxes
21:14.1
na minundate na yung
21:15.2
digitalization roadmap.
21:17.0
But hopefully,
21:17.8
every year,
21:18.4
mabigyan talaga ng malaking budget.
21:19.9
Makapag-hire talaga sila
21:21.1
ng mga
21:21.4
tech IT experts
21:23.4
who will really lead
21:25.4
the digitalization
21:26.7
na hindi siya project
21:27.5
kasi nangyayari
21:28.3
under the previous
21:29.3
under the Aquino administration,
21:31.4
there was automation.
21:33.5
Tapos, parang nag-recept.
21:34.9
Under the Duterte administration,
21:37.0
Commissioner Dulay started
21:38.1
this own,
21:39.1
I mean,
21:39.6
a launch is
21:40.2
23 ba?
21:41.2
O 21 plus
21:42.4
digitalization projects.
21:45.0
Then,
21:45.4
under Commissioner Lumagi,
21:47.2
with the current administration,
21:49.6
parang may bago na naman
21:50.5
digitalization.
21:51.4
Di ba dapat
21:52.3
iisalak yun?
21:53.3
The point is,
21:54.4
ma-integrate yung system,
21:55.6
ma-automate siya
21:56.2
that every taxpayer
21:57.1
can access their tax information
21:59.0
even through their mobile phones.
22:00.9
So, ganun dapat yung
22:02.2
plano yung vision doon.
22:05.5
And it requires so much budget.
22:07.2
So, I would say,
22:08.4
marami nag-improve.
22:09.8
Especially na,
22:10.9
I think the annual tax return lang,
22:12.6
almost 100% online na
22:14.7
yung pagpa-file.
22:15.9
And with the ease of paying taxes,
22:17.2
ang daming improvements.
22:18.4
But I still believe
22:20.0
digitalization
22:21.4
is not holistic
22:23.1
or integrated.
22:24.4
So, I think,
22:25.1
pondo at plano talaga.
22:27.3
Magsama siya.
22:28.1
Hindi may plano,
22:28.8
walang pondo.
22:29.9
O may pondo,
22:30.6
hindi naman nagagamit
22:31.8
ng tama.
22:33.0
And hiring the right people pa rin.
22:35.1
We don't need so much examiners.
22:36.8
We need a system
22:38.0
that will allow the government
22:40.3
to collect higher taxes,
22:42.6
especially from those
22:43.8
who are earning more.
22:45.2
And relieve
22:45.8
the small taxpayers
22:47.8
from unnecessary stress,
22:50.1
burden, or cost.
22:51.4
Yung mga penalty-penalty na yan,
22:53.1
mali yung tinatakot natin.
22:54.4
Dapat yung mga tax evaders,
22:56.0
hindi nga tinatakot ng penalty,
22:57.3
kinukulong.
22:58.6
So, kung tatanungin nyo ako,
23:00.5
hanggat walang nakukulong,
23:01.5
feeling ko,
23:02.3
hindi effective yung tax system.
23:04.1
Kasi dapat,
23:04.7
mapagbayad mo lahat,
23:06.0
at yung talagang pasaway,
23:06.9
makulong.
23:07.8
Diba?
23:08.1
Eh, iba nakatakbo pa,
23:09.1
nanalo pa.
23:09.9
Parang may mali.
23:11.2
Mr. TaxWiz,
23:12.9
with your recent travels
23:14.2
to different countries,
23:15.7
including Singapore,
23:17.5
Malaysia,
23:18.3
Japan,
23:19.6
are you doing a world tour
23:20.7
to promote your business?
23:21.2
To promote your book?
23:23.0
And where can people get a copy
23:25.0
of the book?
23:27.1
Madalas akong tanungin yan, Mon.
23:29.1
Before that,
23:30.0
naalala ko lang na
23:31.0
with the tax reform,
23:33.7
kasi diba,
23:34.1
under the previous administration,
23:35.9
there was a comprehensive tax reform program.
23:38.0
So, it's still continuing.
23:39.1
Merong mga pending pa,
23:41.2
especially doon sa
23:42.0
passive incomes,
23:44.2
real estate valuation,
23:46.4
then yung digital taxation.
23:48.9
But kami,
23:49.5
meron pa rin kami yung proposal.
23:50.6
I still,
23:51.2
hope that the government
23:53.0
will consider yung
23:54.0
pre-populated tax return
23:55.7
so that all individual taxpayers
23:57.3
will just get their
23:58.9
monthly or quarterly
23:59.9
or annual tax billing.
24:01.8
And we either pay
24:02.7
or
24:03.3
provide more documents
24:07.3
para lesser yung taxes
24:08.4
na babayaran natin.
24:09.6
But it requires so much
24:10.8
data sharing or
24:12.3
system to capture the information
24:14.2
regarding income of every individual.
24:16.6
Then,
24:17.1
yung audit talagang dapat gawing risk-based.
24:19.4
Stop the random, useless,
24:20.7
waste of time
24:22.1
na manual audit
24:23.4
na nagdadaragan tayo.
24:25.2
It's important that
24:26.6
every citizen
24:27.8
or every business
24:28.8
or taxpayer
24:29.7
in the Philippines
24:30.4
are mindful na
24:31.7
that they need to pay
24:33.0
the right taxes
24:33.6
and if they don't,
24:34.7
they'll go to jail.
24:35.8
Ganon.
24:36.6
Hindi yung parang
24:37.7
kung sino yung malakas
24:38.9
sa nakaupo
24:39.6
or sa BIR
24:40.8
nakakalusot
24:42.0
or sino yung mas malaki
24:43.0
yung lagay,
24:44.0
sila pa hindi nagbabayad
24:44.9
ng tamang buwis.
24:46.3
Then, of course,
24:47.7
may mga proposals pa rin tayo
24:49.2
na makonsider yung
24:50.4
flat tax system
24:53.2
or tax regime
24:54.6
para sa mga micro
24:55.7
and small taxpayers
24:57.1
or enterprises.
24:58.5
While I believe
24:59.4
that the EOPT
25:00.2
will do so much good
25:01.7
to everyone,
25:03.3
I feel like yung threshold
25:04.6
masyadong mababa.
25:05.7
Dapat,
25:06.4
small taxpayers
25:07.0
hanggang 100 million.
25:08.5
Kasi sa akin,
25:09.7
we should make
25:10.8
earning at least 1 million
25:13.4
easier
25:13.9
na wala mo ng tax.
25:15.6
Then, we should allow
25:16.5
small businesses
25:17.2
to really grow
25:18.3
na hindi muna sila
25:19.5
nababurden ng tax.
25:20.4
Well, those who are
25:21.5
really big,
25:22.3
make them pay huge taxes.
25:23.5
Sila na lang yung
25:23.9
collectahan natin
25:24.6
ng malaking tax.
25:25.8
And if we will be
25:26.6
very efficient,
25:27.9
one day,
25:28.6
this is a dream,
25:29.5
one day,
25:30.4
wala nang tax yung mga empleyado.
25:31.7
Kasi diba,
25:32.5
the employees will never
25:34.0
be as rich
25:35.0
as the rich tycoons
25:37.6
or business people
25:39.0
because they have
25:40.4
a fixed income.
25:41.6
So, they should not
25:42.1
even be taxed.
25:43.1
Those who should have
25:44.6
a bigger share
25:45.5
in funding our government
25:47.0
are those who are
25:47.7
earning a lot, lot more.
25:49.3
Not the fixed income
25:50.3
earners.
25:50.4
Or our teachers
25:51.8
or regular employees.
25:54.1
And the tax evaders.
25:55.9
Kung di sila magbabayad,
25:56.8
kulong talaga natin sila.
25:58.0
Kahit yung mga nasa
25:59.1
gobyerno,
25:59.9
ikulong natin sila
26:00.7
kung di sila nagbabayad.
26:02.0
So, anyway,
26:02.5
going back dun sa book,
26:04.7
it's not really a world tour,
26:06.4
but it's part of the roadshow.
26:08.8
And we're promoting the book
26:09.9
because I think
26:10.7
this is really an easy
26:11.9
reference or guide
26:12.9
for all our foreign investors.
26:15.5
And it's available
26:16.0
in the Philippines,
26:17.3
in Shopee,
26:18.2
in Lazada,
26:19.3
and in the US.
26:20.3
It will be available
26:21.4
via Amazon.
26:23.2
So, and of course,
26:24.1
in our roadshow,
26:24.9
we give complimentary copies
26:26.4
to those who are
26:27.6
registered participants
26:28.7
or foreign investors
26:30.0
who are interested
26:30.9
to do business
26:32.1
in the Philippines.
26:33.2
But definitely,
26:34.1
they can also ask copies
26:35.3
from the Philippines
26:36.3
Trade and Investment Center
26:37.5
kasi nga we're sending
26:38.7
them complimentary copies.
26:40.2
And we'll come up with
26:41.8
yung e-book
26:43.8
so that it will be easier
26:45.6
for everyone
26:46.3
to get a copy
26:47.6
kasi very useful siya.
26:49.1
It's hard to
26:49.7
actually,
26:50.3
to put it together
26:50.9
kasi ang daming bata
26:51.6
sa Pilipinas,
26:52.7
tas ang daming updates
26:53.7
na parang pagising mo bukas,
26:55.7
outdated na yung alam mo kahapon,
26:57.3
ganun yung level.
26:58.2
So, to put it together
26:59.5
is really
27:00.1
so much hard work
27:01.7
and a lot of people
27:03.3
work hard for it.
27:05.2
But at the same time,
27:06.4
the concept alone,
27:07.9
yung talagang
27:08.4
yung care mo
27:09.5
na hindi sila mawindang,
27:11.3
hindi sila maligaw.
27:14.5
So, yun.
27:15.5
So, hopefully,
27:16.4
through our book,
27:17.1
Why Invest in the Philippines,
27:18.6
they would have
27:19.2
a resounding
27:19.9
impact
27:20.3
yes to invest
27:21.2
in the Philippines
27:21.8
after browsing it.
27:23.1
Last question,
27:25.0
Mr. Mon Abrea.
27:27.4
With the upcoming
27:29.0
tax filing season
27:30.8
on April 15,
27:33.2
what are some
27:34.4
key considerations
27:35.7
individuals
27:36.7
at kahit yung mga
27:38.5
negosyo,
27:39.2
mga businesses
27:39.7
should keep in mind
27:41.3
as they prepare
27:42.5
for this?
27:44.4
Number one,
27:45.3
we have to
27:45.8
we have to take time now
27:48.8
because, of course,
27:49.9
we're very busy
27:51.6
doing our business,
27:53.0
making a lot of money,
27:55.5
cutting our budget,
27:56.7
doing all this
27:57.4
hustle thing
27:59.6
the whole year.
28:00.9
But,
28:01.5
at the beginning of the year,
28:03.2
we have to take a
28:04.1
to really
28:04.9
take a pause
28:06.0
and paghandaan natin
28:07.7
mabuti,
28:08.3
intindihin natin
28:09.4
kung ano yung malalagay
28:10.7
sa annual income tax return natin.
28:12.5
Kasi una,
28:13.5
pwede ka talagang
28:14.0
ma-audit
28:14.6
o makasuhan
28:15.2
kapag na-under-declare
28:17.3
o hindi mo lahat na-declare,
28:18.6
hindi mo nabayaran
28:19.2
yung tamang buhay.
28:19.9
Pero,
28:20.8
more importantly,
28:21.7
number two is
28:22.6
make sure na ma-review talaga
28:24.3
yung compliance
28:25.0
na na-comply mo lahat
28:26.2
ng dapat.
28:26.9
May monthly,
28:27.4
may quarterly,
28:28.0
may mga attachments.
28:29.4
Medyo madami
28:30.2
pero hindi naman kasi
28:30.9
isang tao na yung dapat gumagawa.
28:32.6
So, I think
28:33.4
the annual tax review
28:35.3
that should have been supported
28:38.6
by yung monthly compliances there.
28:41.5
Ngayon,
28:41.7
kung hindi nagawa,
28:42.5
at least bago mo permahan
28:43.9
yung annual income tax return,
28:46.1
maintindihan mo
28:46.7
kung ano yung dinedeclare mo
28:47.8
at malaman mo
28:48.5
kung tama yung binabayaran mo.
28:49.9
And paghandaan mo din yung audit.
28:51.8
Not because i-audit ka,
28:53.2
but I think it's part of the due diligence
28:54.9
and being a responsible taxpayer
28:56.9
na all the supporting documents are there.
29:00.3
Iwasan natin yung manghula,
29:01.6
mandaya,
29:02.2
or mag-underdeclare
29:03.1
kasi yung repercussion niya,
29:04.7
hindi lang penalties,
29:05.9
nagkakaroon tayo ng image sa BIR
29:07.5
na tax evader tayo
29:09.0
o mandaraya tayo.
29:10.3
And kapag naglagay tayo,
29:11.9
malalagay tayo sa favorite list
29:13.7
ng mga gusto kong i-audit.
29:15.7
Kasi dahil naglalagay ka,
29:17.1
ibabalik-balikan ka
29:18.0
para makakuha sila
29:19.6
ng lalagay.
29:19.9
So, let's consider this
29:23.3
as our major contribution
29:24.9
to nation building.
29:26.1
It sounds like a cliche,
29:27.6
pero ito yung ambag natin
29:28.8
para sa bayan,
29:30.2
para maging masagana
29:32.6
o mangunlad ang Pilipinas.
29:34.5
Sana yung mas malaki
29:35.6
ang kinikita,
29:36.6
talagang kahit medyo masakit,
29:38.7
sila yung mas malaki yung bayaran.
29:40.3
And hopefully,
29:41.2
yung mga walang babayaran,
29:42.4
mag-file pa rin sila
29:43.2
kasi baka makalimutan na naman nila,
29:45.0
ma-penalize pa sila,
29:46.0
wala na nga silang babayaran.
29:47.1
So, learn how to
29:49.1
learn the options
29:51.5
kasi pwede namang manual,
29:53.4
EBIR or EFPS.
29:55.0
Everything is online na naman eh.
29:56.7
So, find out which is
29:57.5
the most convenient for you.
29:59.2
Then, alamin talaga mabuti
30:00.7
ano yung mga requirements
30:01.6
o ano yung dapat madeklara.
30:03.3
Then, finally,
30:05.3
ang mahalaga dito is
30:07.4
once na nakapagbayad tayo,
30:10.1
maramdaman natin na
30:11.6
this is part of being Filipino.
30:14.3
Kasi mahirap yung nagbayad
30:15.3
kasi humalang ang loob mo.
30:16.4
So, sana ang April 15 is parang
30:18.8
special Valentine's Day
30:20.7
para sa pagiging Pilipino.
30:22.4
Mapakita natin yung
30:23.4
pagmamahal natin sa bayan.
30:25.5
At iwasan natin man daya
30:26.9
kasi alam nyo,
30:27.4
pagka naloko ka sa malit na bagay,
30:30.3
ang karma baka maloko ka
30:31.6
sa mas malaking bagay,
30:32.6
sa mas seryosong bagay.
30:34.4
Whether sa pag-ibig,
30:35.7
sa career,
30:36.8
or sa pamilya,
30:37.9
mas masakit yun.
30:38.7
So, iwasan natin na maloko
30:40.8
para hindi rin tayo maloko.
30:42.1
At ayaw natin na niloloko tayo,
30:43.8
diba?
30:44.1
So, let's try to be as much
30:45.8
as honest as we can,
30:47.2
pay the right taxes,
30:48.3
and on time,
30:48.8
huwag natin habulin yung deadline.
30:50.7
So, as early as now,
30:52.1
you can already file.
30:53.3
And actually,
30:53.9
you can use TaxWizPH.
30:55.3
So, yung mobile app namin,
30:56.5
libre lang.
30:57.3
Just download it.
30:58.3
If you have questions,
30:59.1
you can chat.
31:00.0
And you can check,
31:01.2
if you're an individual taxpayer,
31:02.6
you can also use it
31:03.6
para i-file mo yung
31:04.6
annual income tax return mo.
31:06.6
So, good luck.
31:09.5
Mon, maraming salamat.
31:12.6
At sa lahat ng paliwanag,
31:15.2
sa lahat ng iyong
31:16.1
ginagawa para sa bayan,
31:17.6
ginagawa para sa kapwa,
31:19.4
mas pinapadali mo
31:20.4
yung pag-unawa namin
31:21.6
sa taxation
31:22.7
for your books,
31:24.8
for your lectures,
31:25.7
for your roadshow.
31:27.2
Maraming maraming salamat
31:28.1
for making this world
31:29.3
a better place.
31:31.4
So, mula sa aking puso,
31:33.0
thank you for joining me
31:34.3
here on The Interviewer.
31:36.9
And God bless you.
31:38.0
Kita tayo muli
31:38.7
next year,
31:40.2
2025.
31:41.5
Thank you, Mon.
31:42.5
Yes, thank you.
31:43.5
Thank you, Dendy Toboy.
31:44.6
And importahan nyo yung aming roadshow.
31:46.2
And if you have questions on taxes,
31:48.8
just consult ACG.
31:50.2
So, visit our website,
31:51.7
acg.ph,
31:53.0
our LinkedIn,
31:54.0
social media accounts,
31:55.2
and of course,
31:55.8
download TaxWiz PH.
31:57.8
T-A-X-W-H-I-Z-E-P-H.
32:00.9
Dalawang H, no?
32:01.6
Kasi kapampangan ako, eh.
32:03.0
TaxWiz.
32:03.8
Okay?
32:04.2
So, si TaxWiz is a mobile app.
32:06.1
You can download it for free.
32:07.7
Use the features to help you
32:09.3
pay your taxes.
32:10.3
And para sa ating mga foreign investors,
32:12.3
anybody who would like to invest
32:13.4
in the Philippines,
32:14.4
may invest in the Philippines,
32:15.4
anything that you need to know,
32:17.0
this is a guide in investing
32:18.2
and doing business in the Philippines.
32:20.0
To all our kababayans
32:21.0
and to all our foreign investors
32:22.5
in the US, Europe, Australia, Canada,
32:26.4
and the Middle East,
32:28.0
see you soon.
32:29.1
But, anyong sayo,
32:30.7
Korea muna kami.
32:31.6
Bye-bye.
32:32.3
Thank you.
32:33.4
Hi, people of the Philippines
32:35.1
and people of the world.
32:37.3
Hit the button below
32:38.6
and you will be subscribing
32:40.7
to the Boy Abunda Talk channel
32:42.9
on YouTube.
32:43.6
Let's keep talking.
32:46.1
Kaibigan,
32:46.7
tuloy ang usap.


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