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The Bureau of Customs opened beta testing for its upgraded Online Tax Estimator, inviting stakeholders to try the system and provide feedback
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Developed by BOC’s Management Information System and Technology Group, the calculator offers a more accurate and user-friendly breakdown of duties, taxes, and charges, BOC said
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The BOC earlier suspended use of the online duty and tax calculator after complaints of discrepancies
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has opened beta testing for its upgraded Online Tax Estimator, inviting stakeholders to try the system and provide feedback as part of continuing efforts to modernize customs processes and strengthen services.
Developed with the assistance of the Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG), the enhanced tool provides a more comprehensive and user-friendly breakdown of duties, taxes, and other lawful charges, the BOC said in a statement.
The upgrade aims to give stakeholders a clearer and more accurate guide to their importation obligations, making the process more transparent and easier to understand.
The beta version may be accessed at https://customs.gov.ph/estimator; comments and suggestions may be sent to mistg@customs.gov.ph.
BOC said the feedback will be vital in “refining the tool, ensuring system efficiency, and enhancing overall performance.”
Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the assessment of duties and taxes continues to follow the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), Department of Finance orders, and other relevant regulations.
“With this initiative, the Bureau of Customs is not only offering a more accessible and user-friendly tool but also demonstrating our determination to improve systems that directly serve the needs of the public,” Nepomuceno said.
Nepomuceno earlier ordered the temporary removal of the BOC’s Online Duty and Tax Calculator from its website to allow for system improvements and to make the tool clearer, more reliable, and more responsive to public needs.
The move followed public complaints, including one from Filipino actress Bela Padilla, who posted on social media platform X that she was charged P4,600 in taxes for a shipment worth P11,000, while the BOC calculator reflected only P1,650. Other similar complaints surfaced online.
“Surely, we shouldn’t pay almost half of the value of our item in taxes, no?” Padilla said, adding that she messaged BOC and filed a report with the courier to request a review of the charges.
In a previous statement, Nepomuceno apologized for any confusion caused, saying the final assessments of duties and taxes remain correct and based on the CMTA and related regulations.
“While the current calculator provides estimates, it does not yet reflect all lawful charges required by law, which may have led to misunderstanding when compared with the official assessment,” Nepomuceno noted.
“To avoid similar situations in the future, I directed that the calculator be taken down until enhancements are completed. The upgraded system will provide a more comprehensive breakdown, ensuring that all applicable charges are properly reflected,” he added.
