March 21, 2015
Visayan Daily Star by Carla Gomez | http://goo.gl/zCmkML
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Martin said yesterday that a request to delay the imposition of its recently reimposed 12 percent advance Value-Added Tax on raw and refined sugar until next crop year, is being made at the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
She is relaying the request of the stakeholders, traders and producers to delay the imposition of Revenue Regulation No 4-2015 to the BIR so clarifications can be made on its provisions, especially on its definition of raw sugar, Martin said.
The delay will ensure better compliance, noting that the current crop year is about to end and the next will be in September, she said.
Senate President Franklin Drilon has also promised sugar industry stakeholders that he will relay his concerns to BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, said.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes is gathering data on the effect of the 12 percent VAT on agrarian reform beneficiaries, she added.
Industry stakeholders are also opposing Revenue Regulation No 4-2015 that they have called a “contemptuous act”.
The stakeholders of the sugar industry will not hesitate to file civil, criminal and administrative cases against any person who violates the existing preliminary injunction prohibiting the imposition of VAT on raw sugar, a statement from the group said.
The imposition of value-added tax on raw sugar under the new revenue regulation is nothing but a disguised issuance to circumvent the rule of law and the standing preliminary injunction issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 60 of Cadiz City, the statement said.