New BIR shame campaign turns to Makati lawyers

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) now has lawyers on its sights in its latest shame campaign on taxes.Compared to the controversial “piggy-back” ad condemned by the Philippine Medical Association, the new campaign went straight to facts - over half (53.7%) or 451 out 840 registered lawyers based in Makati failed to declared their tax dues in 2012.The BIR did away with fancy graphic to lay down hard figures about the situation, showing the glaring difference of the income tax public school teachers pay compared to lawyers, considering their hefty pay check.Earlier this month, the PMA said that BIR ads that labeled Filipino doctors as tax evaders were “absolutely unfair” and that shame tactics can be divisive instead of constructive.For her part, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said that the ads are “not insulting” and is “making a statement of fact” based on data they have gathered.“The whole ad is talking to those who are not paying the right taxes. You should be ashamed or embarrassed to those who are paying the right taxes, that’s the whole message… It can be a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, anyone on top who do not pay the right tax,” she said.The BIR has missed its revenue goal in the first quarter this year, raking in P82.18 billion in end-March, or 5% below its P87.270 billion target for the quarter.