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uhm., there is really nothing to say except that Freelancers in Philippines are exempted! Heard that correctly — we really don’t need to pay anything. This is according to a personnel in the BIR office in San Fernando City, Pampanga(I visited their office just this August 2009). That person pointed out that if we are not an employee of a legitimate company nor do we have business permit approved by DTI then we don’t have to pay anything. So I guess I should not be guilty of not paying at all. Works for me!
Some people asks me why the hell do I want to pay my tax?? I guess for dumb reason that I want to contribute to the government so some government officials can buy new clothes, houses and cars for their own profit AND to get a proof that I am a good paying citizen. I know, crazy reason but atleast it was already confirmed that I am not oblige of anything and nor any freelancers out there. Ain’t that cool??
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Can you describe the process for paying taxes as consultant? What form did you use? On what date are you paying? I asked the representative of BIR how to pay for taxes as consultant but he did not gave me any information.
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Ganun nga talaga kasarap ang buhay ng freelancer!
walang tax.
hmm…mag-fulltime freelance na rin kaya ako la..hahahha..hindi naman ako nakikinabang sa taxes na binabayaran ko. Imagine, I’m forcing myself to work and pay taxes pero wla akong nakikitang benefit sa BIR contribution ko.
@Jed, thanks for the info. I’ll see if I can ask some accountants about that info.
@jojo, oo nga. masarap pag walang tax. haha
@hannah, lol.. why not.
Dapat lang wala ng tax kc freelancer nagbabayad na ng tax sa freelancing site, example sa Odesk 10% na of total earning. withdrawal fee at foreign money to php conversion.
Saka freelancers sarili nila nagbabayad ng internet at electricity unlike sa mga nagtratraho sa company.
Freelancers are classified as self-employed and are required to file taxes. The BIR personnel made a mistake. There are freelancers who don’t declare their income.
The problem arises when you need to apply for loans and all that good stuff. People will see your house and stuff and we are no longer protected by the constitution. Fishing expeditions on your banking transactions and properties are A.Okay as long as someone accuses you.
Regarding sa tax, based on BIR updates, Link : http://www.bir.gov.ph/lumangweb/upd_feature.html#ecommerce ,rregarding online freelancing, “there is an absense of taxation rules regarding this matter , a tax cannot be imposed unless the clear and express language of a statute supports it “.
Another is, we already pay tax for services, VAT para sa net at kuryente, remittance and other direct and indirect tax. Another is, compared to employees and other businesses, ok lang n magbayad sila ng tax dahil may protection sila from government, may 13th month pay, at may separation pay kapg nawalan ng work. May habol sila sa gobyerno kapag nagkaproblemsa sa work. May natitutulong sa kanila ang DOLE. Samantalang sa online freelancers, wala tayong protection against scammers, kapg biglang tinigil ang contract, kapag may negative feedback na di natin deserve, at walang existing official receipts per transaction. Wla din tayong protection regarding sa mg rates natin. Sana i-finalize nila ang excemption of tax ng mga freelancers just like mga seaman na pinoy. We bring money to the philippines, malaki din contribution natin sa economy. Higit sa lahat nakapagbibigay tayo ngmagandang reputation sa Pilipinas. We also advertise the Philippines sa mga clients natin indirectly.