A Taxing
Society
It’s not exactly
a recent event, but for those who don’t know – the BIR has decided on taxation
of association dues – we’ll call it ToADs for short. Now, I don’t know if this
is a response to the weakening dollar, but this income generating project (for
the government) seems ridiculous at best and terrifying at worst.
In case you’ve
never lived in a condominium: association dues are a pooled fund used for the
maintenance of the building, including the salaries of the staff. The amount
given is based on a value set by the homeowners’ association multiplied by how
much space you have. In short, it’s the combined resources of several families
for upkeep of their homes.
Now, I’m no
lawyer but I can see how unreasonable that is because if you think about it:
Homeowners earn money via salaries which are taxed (income); this money is used
to pay off utilities (which will now also taxed via e-vat) and personnel, who
will also be taxed (income). The BIR will acquire a slice from all ends. So why
is it that the government has decided on ToADs? There is nothing earned in the
collection process (no work was done), it is simply a way to handle the
expenses of a large amount of people at one time. As such, this tax seems to be
an expression of greed - as a child eyes another’s dinner, knowing that he has
his own. I don’t know if ToADs is legal, but I know that it’s not right. A
government that allows – even encourages – such a thing is reprehensible
because it both discourages its people’s comfort and disparages group
organization.
There are two
things in this world that are constant: the first occurs only once in one’s
lifetime, while the other permeates nearly all aspects of today’s existence. Is
it no wonder that I find the former less disturbing than the latter?
-SS
Student
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