Tax stamps system on alcoholic drinks seen to start in January

The long-delayed implementation of tax stamps on alcoholic drinks to ensure collection of correct excise taxes will finally start by January next year, Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay said.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue, which will implement the Internal Revenue Stamps Integrated System (Irsis) on alcohol and distilled spirits, was firming up the contract with state-run printer Apo Production Unit Inc. and Irsis Corp., Dulay told reporters last week.

Apo will print the tax stamps while Irsis will provide the stamps’ security features.

Dulay said they expected to finalize the deal with Apo and Irsis by December.

Last year, Dulay said the implementation of Irsis would “ensure the collection of correct excise taxes on distilled spirits and wines as well as curb illicit trade of alcohol products in the country.”

Dulay’s predecessor, former BIR chief Kim Jacinto-Henares, had wanted to introduce Irsis on alcoholic drinks before the Aquino administration ended.

The BIR under the Duterte administration pushed back the rollout of Irsis several times due to issues on the cost of tax stamps and the manufacturers’ concern about the possible disruption of production when affixing the stamps on their products.