IT’S common among ordinary Filipinos to have more than one job. We need sidelines to make both ends meet.

I know a friend who works as an IT professional during the day and still labors at night by repairing computers and gadgets of strangers.

Others put up small businesses to augment the meager salary they get from employment.

I’m interested in starting a small business. The content of my piggy bank shows I can buy some goods from the grocery store and sell them 10 percent higher to my neighbors.

With a little luck and perseverance, maybe sari-sari store can grow and turn into a 7/11 after so many years.

But that’s a big maybe.

At any rate, running a business is not just all about buying and selling. One important aspect of the business is legitimacy. For a store to be legit, it has to be registered with the government. It has to pay taxes.

And the Bureau of Internal Revenue is serious in its mandate to collect taxes especially from business establishments.

Just recently, the BIR reminded all sellers of their obligation to automatically issue a receipt or invoice for each service rendered or sale of goods.

Starting this month, all business owners must display in their respective establishment or website or social media account the Notice to Issue Receipt/Invoice (NIRI).

The NIRI, which was already being issued on a staggered basis by the Revenue District Offices (RDOs)/Large Taxpayers (LT) Divisions to their registered business taxpayers since October 2022, will replace the “Ask for Receipt” Notice (ARN).

Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 43-2022 issued by the BIR on Sept. 29, 2022 earlier stated that the use of ARN is valid only until June 30 this year.

With the display of the NIRI in business establishments, all sellers are reminded of their obligation to automatically issue receipt/invoice for each service rendered/sale of goods without waiting for the buyer to ask for it.

Per Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 10-2019, the BIR Notice to the Public must be prominently displayed within the seller’s place of business in an area visible to the public, including all its branches and mobile stores.

All registered business taxpayers requesting the replacement of their old “Ask for Receipt” notice are required to update their registration information before the release of NIRI.

A designated official company email address shall be required, which shall be used by the BIR in serving its orders, notices, letters, and communications, among others, to taxpayers.

All sellers, whether operating online or offline, must adhere to the requirement of issuance of receipts/invoices for every sale of service/goods, as mandated by our existing laws.

Failure to comply with the said requirement will result in the imposition of penalties or other legal consequences provided under the Tax Code, as amended.

Other legal consequences could pertain to stiffer sanctions like closure. Just yesterday, a Chinese restaurant in Makati and its branches were padlocked by BIR personnel for tax violations.

Yes, the BIR can do that. So remember, pay your taxes especially when you’re a businessman.

**

For comments, please call or text 09569012811 or email [email protected]