MANILA — The Bureau of Customs said Sunday it has reached out to actress Bela Padilla to resolve the supposed hefty import duties she raised on social media.
In a post on X on Saturday, Padilla said she was being charged for P4,600 in taxes for a shipment worth P11,000.
She said she should only be charged P1,650 according to the agency's online calculator.
"I usually shop online and get packages with more value, so I more or less know when the taxes are too high even without your calculator. Surely, we shouldn't pay almost half of the value of our item in taxes, no?" she said.
CUSTOMS SAYS RESOLVING ISSUE 'PRIVATELY AND DIRECTLY'
The Bureau of Customs in a statement said that resolving the issue "will be done privately and directly with the complaining party," noting that it respects and supports voicing out grievances on social media.
The agency added it "will act on all verified complaints equally, without any preference or bias, whether from private individuals or known personalities."
The Bureau of Customs tax calculator lets users estimate the duties and taxes they will have to pay for items shipped to the Philippines.
Users need to input the cost of the item, dutiable freight and insurance, and applicable excise taxes.
The bureau reminds users, however, that the calculator is only meant to generate an overview or range of duties and taxes that may be owed.
"The actual amount of duties and taxes may differ from the estimated amount herein provided," it also says.