Senior citizens don't need to show TIN for discounts

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said senior citizens might need not their Tax Identification Numbers to avail of discount privileges provided for in Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003.

The DSWD, which chairs the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board, an inter-agency body that oversees the implementation of RA 9257, is seeking for the immediate amendment of a revenue regulation issued by the Department of Finance on December 2, 2005 requiring senior citizens to present their TIN when availing of discounts from establishments.

Section 8, No. 5 of Revenue Regulation No. 4-2006 states that "the business establishment giving sales discount to qualified senior citizens is required to keep separate and accurate record of senior citizens, which shall include the name of the senior citizen, Tax Identification Number, an ID from the Office of Senior Citizens Association, gross sales/receipts, sales discount granted, date of transactions and invoice number for every sale transaction of senior citizens."

"The provision is inconsistent with the basic law as indicated in Section 4 of RA 9257 which only requires a senior citizen to submit as proof of entitlement any of the following: ID issued by the city or municipal mayor or of the barangay captain in the place where the elderly resides, passport of the elderly, and other documents that will establish that the senior citizen is a Filipino and is at least 60 years of age," Social Welfare and Development officer in charge Luwalhati Pablo said.

Pablo explained that it maybe difficult already for senior citizens who have no TIN to secure this requirement since they may not be able to endure queuing up for a long period of time.

The DSWD has been receiving complaints from senior citizens who are being denied of the 20 percent discount privilege from various establishments due to this requirement.

The DSWD has also suggested that the amendment includes a provision on the granting of tax deductions from the income of establishments giving five percent discount on purchases made by senior citizens under the Administrative Orders issued by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture.

The DTI and DA administrative orders provide senior citizens five percent discount on regular retail price of basic necessities which include instant noodles, canned goods, coffee, milk, cooking oil, bread and sugar and prime agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, fish, chicken, eggs, fruits, root crops, onions and garlic.

"We are appealing to the DOF to rush the amendment so as not to deny further our senior citizens of their privileges," Pablo said.

Other privileges of senior citizens under the law are free medical and dental services in government facilities, exemption from training fees for socio-economic programs, educational assistance to senior citizens who want to pursue their education, express lane privileges in all private, commercial and government establishments, 50 percent discount for utilities like water, electricity and telephone for senior citizen centers and residential care facilities. - Jasmin R. Uy