MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) stood firm Wednesday on its decision to tax extra or voluntary contributions made by government and private employees to state pension and insurance firms like the Pag-IBIG, Social Security System, Government Service Insurance Corporations and PhilHealth despite strong opposition from members of Congress and other sectors.
“We will come out with another circular reiterating the impositions of the tax under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 53-2011,” said Jethro Sabariaga, chief of staff for legal matters of BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares.
He said that, contrary to news reports, overseas Filipino workers and minimum wage earners like household help are not covered by the circular as these groups of taxpayers are exempted from taxation under the Tax Code.
“They can put all their earnings in the said insurance companies and they will not be taxed,” he said.
Earlier, Henares said that mandatory contributions are still exempted from income taxation under the memorandum.
Covered by RMC 53-2011 are extra contributions which are considered investments, she said.
The BIR came out with the RMC last July after noting that insurance companies have come out with various projects encouraging their members to increase their monthly contributions to hike their pensions when they retire and upgrade their health care coverage. –JUN RAMIREZ, Manila Bulletin
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
