G.A. Viray
Tax is defined as a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions, that is, according to Google. But to the common population, a tax is like a burden. Especially for a third world country which does not have the benefits that are worth the common man’s tax, people frown upon this three letter word.
In the recent years, Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) commissioner Kim Henares has been making news by reminding rich people to pay taxes, especially World-class boxer, Manny Pacquiao. And now, with his upcoming bout with Floyd Mayweather, Henares already gave an early “reminder” for the boxer to promptly pay his taxes.
However, Pacquiao is not alone, among the richest of the Filipino people, we have found other taxpayers that pay tax some people cannot even earn in their lifetime. Kim Henares loves them! Yes, they are the country’s top ten taxpayers. Based from the BIR’s Open Data on the Top 500 individual taxpayers in the Philippines as of November 24, 2014, let’s find out who is on Kim Henares watchlist.
10. Insular Life Chairman and CEO Vicente Ayllon (P 50,088,841.00)
9. Meralco President Oscar Reyes (P 51,440,314.00)
8. Mercury Drug President Vivian Que Azcona (P 51,617,174.69)
7. Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez (P 55,627,417.00)
6. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. President Lorenzo Tan (P 60,894,276.00)
5. Megaworld Corporation Founder and Chairman Andrew Tan (P 67,184,002.00)
4. Reynaldo Benoza Chico, Jr. (P 67,340,888.00)
3. Atty. Estelito Mendoza (P 73,185,375.00)
2. Businessman Juanito Pornuevo Alcantara (P 99,612,000.00)
1. World-class boxer Manny Pacquiao (P 163,841,863.00)
These individuals, we assume, made the most money than any other individuals in the Philippines. And with insanely high amount they have paid the country (and with the taxes we pay as well), we hope the government can utilize the money we earned sweat and blood.
So, have you paid your taxes yet?
