BIR tightens rules on car importations

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue will limit the issuance of authority to release imported goods (ATRIG) to just one automobile to make sure that the government gets the right taxes on imported motor vehicles.

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares said the implementation of the one ATRIG-one automobile policy is aimed at “ensuring that the importation of automobiles are fully accounted for with the end in view that revenue collections of the government are property protected.”

The move is aimed at ensuring that the proper excise tax and VAT are paid on every imported vehicle subject to taxation.

“With respect to the importation of automobiles, one ATRIG shall be issued for each unit of automobile with a net importer’s price of over P2.11 million excluding value added and excise taxes,” Henares said.

Henares said pending enhancement of the Philippine National Single Window System on ATRIG, a separate notarized application for ATRIG should be filed and signed by the importer or his duly authorized representative with the prescribed documentary stamp tax affixed for each and every unit of automobile.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said it was looking at clamping down on importation of motor vehicles from major Asian automotive makers.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the agency and the Board of Investments were looking at importations of cars from major auto exporting Asian countries that declare construction value, significantly lower than how much they sell the cars in their home markets.