Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said on Tuesday her instructions to market vendors and operators of small businesses to issue receipts to their customers does not mean that they will be required later to pay income and business taxes.

The BIR chief issued the clarification to allay fears expressed by small traders that the invoicing requirements are a prelude to the imposition of taxes by the government. She said she is aware of existing laws exempting marginal traders from paying taxes, obviously referring to Revenue Regulations No. 11-2000 signed by then Finance Secretary Jose Pardo and BIR Commissioner Dakila Fonacier.

Henares said she came out with the invoicing directive to monitor earnings of these lowly enterpreneurs, earnings that may grow later that would be subject to taxation. She said it is part of a bigger program of exploring all possible sources of revenues to meet this year's P860-billion collection goal.

“Big and small taxpayers are required by law to pay taxes,” she said. (Jun Ramirez)