Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) must first pay all their tax dues before they can resume operations during the lockdown, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT“In order for Pogo service providers to be allowed to operate, they must pay their 2019 income tax liabilities—in the case of Pogo franchisees, the franchise tax of 2019,” Dominguez said, adding:“Both service providers and licensees must also remit to the BIR all current 2020 withholding tax liabilities. But BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa told the Inquirer on Friday that “Pogos should pay their annual ITRs now” if they wanted to reopen. ADVERTISEMENTPogo licensees tap service providers to communicate with their clients—online gamblers mostly in China. According to Gutierrez, Aspap “welcomes” the formal inquiry planned by Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros on the resumption of Pogo operations.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 08, 2020 21:00 UTC