Bela Padilla calls out Customs after her shipment's taxes amounted to nearly half of total value
Bela Padilla aired her frustration toward the Bureau of Customs after her shipment's taxes amounted to nearly half of its total value.
"Hi @CustomsPH good morning! I’m being charged P4,600 in taxes for a shipment with an P11,000 value. I used your online calculator and should only be charged P1,650," Padilla wrote on X on Aug. 16. "I usually shop online and get packages of higher value, so I more or less know when the taxes are too high even without your calculator. Surely, we shouldn’t pay almost half the value of our item in taxes, no?"
In one of her replies to users, Padilla noted that she doesn't mind paying for taxes, "as long as the amount is correct."
She also noted that since she's buying shampoo and skincare products, they fall under the BOC's beauty and wellness category, which is subject to a 15% tax based on the agency's advisory.
In another tweet, Padilla shared a screenshot of her conversation with the BOC, which explained that its online calculator "only provides an estimate and does not include the landed cost (freight, insurance, brokerage fees, and other charges)."
"As stated in the calculator's disclaimer, the actual duties and taxes payable may differ from estimated amount provided. In addition, couriers may add their own handling or processing fees, which also affect the final amount," it added.
In her response, Padilla argued that even if it were an estimate, she shouldn't be paying thrice as much, especially since her shipment contains shampoo and skincare products.
In another tweet, she also pointed out that even with the value-added tax, the charge should only reach P2,900. There must also be no freight cost since spending P11,000 meant free shipping.
Later in the day, Padilla said she received a call from the courier, which stated that the computation originated from the BOC. The courier "still added fees on top of BOC’s computation even if I have free shipping because of what I ordered," she noted, and so she'd call it again to recompute the charges.
Reflecting on the incident, Padilla noted that a lot of people are experiencing the same thing, with hundreds of them sharing their stories. She also called for transparency.
"Why are there no breakdowns when we’re being charged fees that go as high as nearly half of our parcels value?" she said.
Padilla said she was also told that the BOC calculator "is being taken down for the time being until it’s updated."
"Happy that someone listened today and UNDERSTOOD that taxpayers expect good service," she added.
Final assessment 'correct'
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, in a statement on Aug. 18, said that upon review, the final assessment of duties and taxes on Padilla's shipment "is correct and based on the requirements of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (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 said.
He also reiterated that the calculator is temporarily removed "until enhancements are completed."
"The upgraded system will provide a clearer, more comprehensive breakdown, ensuring that all applicable charges are properly reflected," he added. "The BOC is also developing an improved version of the calculator that will be updated regularly to reflect prevailing rates and give the public a more transparent picture of their total dues."
Nepomuceno also commended Padilla "for raising her point calmly and professionally."
"Constructive feedback like this helps us strengthen transparency and better serve the public," he added. "We are committed to transparency, accuracy, and continuous improvement in our processes. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused and thank the public for their feedback, which helps us serve better."