ASPAP: Stop making unfair remarks and start helping one another

MANILA, Philippines – Accredited Service Providers Association of PAGCOR (ASPAP) Spokesperson Atty. Margarita Gutierrez asked the public to stop making false remarks about the tax payments of POGO Service Providers (PSPs).

The spokesperson's statement follows calls circulating on social media for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to go after PSPs for additional taxes and focus on tracking down illegal offshore gaming operations instead of placing the burden on online sellers and retailers.

“Members of our organization are paying the correct taxes to the government as prerequisite to resuming operations. It is unfair to put us down without knowing the real story. Instead, we should try to contribute what we can in big or small ways to bring our economy back on track,” she said.

ASPAP clarified that BIR Memorandum 60-2020 only requires online sellers and retailers to register their business and does not automatically subject them to taxes. Taxes will only be imposed on businesses that are earning more than P250,000 annually, while those earning below the said amount are exempted from paying taxes under the tax reform law.

Gutierrez reiterated that they are committed to paying appropriate taxes imposed by the government prior to the partial reopening of online gaming operations.

“This is consistent with our assurances to fully support the country’s recovery from the crushing pandemic,” she added.