Lawmakers have expressed their wish to impose taxes on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) to be used in other matters that need funding in the country.
In the hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, the POGO Offshore based licensees stated that they should not be required to register and pay taxes since they are considered as foreign-registered entities that do not earn from the Philippines.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) rules and regulation do not include the registration of the POGO with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). However, they are required to write a letter of no objection from the local government unit (LGU) where their operations are located.
Meanwhile, the BIR sought to amend SECTION 22 of the Tax Code to acquire a clearer definition of the offshore gaming licensee and to include the 25% tax of alien individuals employed by POGO in Section 25. Report from Eunice Samonte
