TININTAHAN ng mga opisyal ng Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs at Bureau of Internal Revenue ang implementing rules and regulations (IRR) para sa VAT Refund for Non-Resident Tourists.
Layon nito na pahintulutan ang mga foreign tourists na mag- apply para sa isang value-added tax refund para sa locally purchased goods mula sa accredited stores.
Sa ilalim ng Republic Act 12079, ang mga non-resident tourists o foreign passport holders ay maaaring mapagkalooban ng VAT refund para sa locally purchased goods, nagkakahalaga ng P3,000, na dadalhin sa labas ng bansa bilang accompanied baggage sa loob ng 60 araw mula sa petsa ng pagbili.
Ang IRR ay nilagdaan nina Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Bureau of Customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, at Bureau of Internal Revenue deputy commissioner Marissa Cabreros.
Sinaksihan naman ito nina Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, at Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go.
“We want more tourists to come — and we want them to stay longer, spend bigger, and transact with convenience,” ang sinabi ni Recto sa ceremonial signing.
Sa ilalim ng IRR, ang DOF ay may mandato na gamitin ang serbisyo ng mga maipagkakapuri at internationally recognized VAT refund operators para makapagbigay ng end-to-end solutions sa gobuyerno.
Ang refunds ay maaaring gawin ‘electronically’ o sa cash.
“With a multiplier effect of 1.97, every 100 pesos spent by a tourist generates 197 pesos in economic output. Imagine that. Halos doble ang balik sa ekonomiya,” ang sinabi ng Kalihim.
“And more money spent by foreign tourists means more businesses created, more Filipino workers hired, more jobs provided, higher incomes for our people, and more revenues for the government to collect. That’s the simple formula for growth,” dagdag na wika nito.
Ang IRR ay nilikha matapos na lagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang batas noong Disyembre, layon nito na pasiglahin ang mas maraming paggugugol at i-promote ang Pilipinas bilang ‘premier global shopping destination.’
“Our shared goal should be clear: Tourists should leave the Philippines with more than just souvenirs. They should leave knowing that this is a country that delivers on its promises. A country that knows how to take good care of its guests. A country that doesn’t just welcome them with smiles—but with systems and policies that work,” ayon kay Recto.
“For if we do things right, in the eyes of our visitors, we won’t just be a country of pristine beaches and warm hospitality. We’ll be that one ultimate tourist destination they’ll keep coming back to. Again and again,” aniya pa rin. Kris Jose
