Congress bucks Customs amnesty

IT’S a no go as far as waiving the penalties slapped on motor vehicle dealers and owners for their failure to pay the appropriate excise tax, after Congress thumbed down the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) version of a tax amnesty program.

Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Carlo Carag told reporters that the proposed voluntary disclosure program (VDP) would no longer push through, as lawmakers insist that “waiving the interest and penalties is no longer within the power” of the DOF and BOC.