THE proposed measure seeking to increase to a maximum of P10 million the reward for informants in tax evasion and smuggling cases was already sent to the Senate for deliberation.
House Bill Number 9306 was already approved by the Lower House on third and final reading.
In an advisory released by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, the proposed measure will be deliberated on by the Senate on Monday next week.
Once it is immediately supported by the committee, the proposed measure can then be endorsed for Senate approval once Congress returns to session in May or after the national elections, and possibly passed into law under the present Congress and administration.
Under the proposed bill, informants who will provide information on tax fraud will be given a reward of up to P10 million, or the equivalent of 10 percent of the tax recovered by the government, whichever is lower.
For informants on smuggling, a reward of up to P10 million will be awarded, or the equivalent of 20 percent of the total value of the confiscated smuggled products, or whichever is lower.
Under existing laws, informants receive only up to P1 million as possible reward.
The measure also provides that charges will be filed against anyone who will provide the wrong information, while informants who are government employees, including their relatives, will not be eligible for any reward.