- Senate Bill No. 2528 aims to impose VAT on foreign streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Gold operating in the country.
- The bill seeks to define the terms “digital service,” “digital service provider,” and “nonresident digital service provider.”
- The Department of Finance estimates that the government tax collection may reach P83.3 billion from 2024 to 2028.
- Digital service providers have generated significant revenue in the country, primarily from video games.
- Nonresident digital service providers are currently not mandated to pay 12 percent VAT, creating an imbalance between domestic and foreign service providers.
- Local streaming platforms in the Philippines are subject to VAT, highlighting the uneven playing field.
- The Philippines is ranked as the third best country in the world and the best in Southeast Asia to have a Netflix subscription in terms of price and variety of content.
Source: onenews.ph
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
