Pacquiao now owes P2.65B in taxes - Henares

Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares, talks to the Associated Press during an interview at her office at suburban Quezon City in this photo taken February 4, 2014. The gun-toting bureaucrat in charge of getting Filipinos to pay their fair share of taxes couldn’t have chosen a higher profile target: Manny Pacquiao, the world champion boxer and hero to millions. AP/Bullit Marquez

MANILA, Philippines — WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao now faces P2.56-billion in tax deficiencies after Sunday's match, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said.

In an interview over dzMM on Monday, Henares added up Pacquiao's guaranteed $20 million purse from his rematch with Timothy Bradley to his alleged back taxes of P1.1 billion from 2008 to 2009 and interests.

"December 2012 'yun, remember, may 2013 may 20 percent na 'yun at ngayong April, so may addition na six [to] seven percent po 'yan," she said.

The People's Champion can settle the liabilities in the United States where his last fight was held and organized.

Update: Palace: BIR chief not offending Pacquiao, spoiling victory

Henares said, however, that the US Internal Revenue Service demands a 40 percent tax contribution from Pacquiao's earnings, while the BIR only asks for 32 percent.

"Kung gagawin niya 'yung tama, palagay ko wala ho tayong makokolekta doon kung gagawin niya 'yung tama pero kung hindi pa rin niya gagawin 'yung tama, may problema na naman ho siya," she said.

Henares also reminded the boxer to document his US tax settlements and report to the BIR to avoid being levied twice.

Pacquiao has been embroiled in a tax trouble with the BIR and the US Internal Revenue Service.

Related: Henares expecting 32% from Pacquiao's next purse

Last Thursday, Henares advised Pacquiao in jest not to think about her in the ring during his April 13 fight and wished him luck. She also said she does not intend to nag him about his tax woes.

"Hindi naman ho ako nagre-remind sa kanya, tinatanong lang ako [ng media]. Kung tama ang gagawin n'ya, baka wala naman siyang babayaran sa Pilipinas kasi baka mas mataas ang babayaran n'ya sa Amerika," Henares said. —Camille Diola

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