House bills exempt Pacquiao from paying taxes

MANILA, Philippines - Colleagues of Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao have filed measures that would exempt the world boxing champion from paying his taxes.

Former Manila mayor and now Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza filed on Wednesday a House bill granting tax breaks to successful athletes like Pacquiao, a television report said.

Atienza is a known ally of Pacquiao, the first boxer to win world titles in eight weight divisions.

Another measure, House Bill No. 3506, would grant a lifetime tax exemption to Pacquiao for giving "outstanding honor and pride" to Filipinos, a radio report said.

According to the report, Pacquiao will be exempted from paying taxes on his boxing earnings, properties, and businesses.

The measure authored by Valenzuela Representative Magtanggol, is also known as the "Pacquiao Act of 2013."

Income tax is a tax on a person’s earnings, emoluments, profit arising from property, practice of profession, conduct of trade or business or on the pertinent items of gross income specified in the Tax Code of 1997.

The said bills were filed amid the controversy that Pacquiao is facing regarding his alleged tax mess.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had garnished Pacquiao's bank accounts for his alleged failure to pay taxes worth P2.2 billion in 2008 and 2009.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares had said Pacquaio's camp has yet to show official documents from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) proving that the boxing icon paid his taxes there.

Pacquiao's promoter and Top Rank chief Bob Arum had said that 30 percent of Pacquiao's earnings in the US were withheld by the company and paid to the IRS.

On Thursday, the Court of Tax Appeals issued a gag order to Pacquiao's camp and the BIR, urging them not to speak about the tax case publicly or through the media. - Louis Bacani