Caught Unregistered & Fined 20,000 Pesos by BIR! How to Legally Monetize Your YouTube Channel?

Join me as I share my personal experience of being penalized by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for not registering my KZbin channel in the Philippines. In this vlog, I'll walk you through the entire process of registering and legally monetizing your online activities, including vlogging, content creation, and online selling. Learn the step-by-step procedures, understand the legal obligations, and discover valuable tips to ensure compliance with BIR regulations. Don't let penalties hinder your online journey-stay informed, stay legal, and turn your passion into a thriving online business!
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[@Mika-mz6gr]

Grazie per averci informato , questo video è utile soprattutto per quelli che sono dei vlogger o che lo saranno in futuro! Era una questione che mi chiedevo da tempo ! Nessun vlogger ne parla! Ciao Paolo! 😊

[@PaoloRigotti]

Mi sa che sono uno dei pochi sfigati che è stato multato. 😑😆

[@jereholivar]

Thanks!

[@PaoloRigotti]

YAY! 😄 Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it. 🙏🙏🙏

[@cofo96]

Sorry to hear. The red tape is something else. And then unregistering the business is a lot more difficult.

[@PaoloRigotti]

It's ridiculous the fact that I'll be needing to hire a bookkeeper to be able to continue vlogging

[@juanlibertario5716]

It's not worth it. The process will just frustrate you. Plus, you will have to file revenue report every quarter--if you fail to do it, then you will be fined again. Government agencies always make the process very complicated so that you will have no choice but to approach a fixer (a.k.a. help). The fixer will get your transaction very quickly at a fee (a few thousands) because they have special "rapport" with their staff.

[@PaoloRigotti]

I'll probably be needing to hire a bookkeeper to keep track of the constant reports I need to pass to the BIR. I'm not sure it's worth it to keep vlogging since I'm just making a few thousand pesos monthly out of it. 😑

[@rauldoeshollywood]

I'm sorry you had to go through that ordeal. Yes, I agree that everybody should pay their fair share of due taxes (if indeed they are)...but in a proper and streamlined manner with minimal red tapes / bureaucracy as much as possible. They have been aggressively promoting the country for the longest time as a worthwhile place to visit and/or settle yet they do these kind of things that negate or counteract or contradict such effort / program. Most if not all vloggers are literally promoting the country. Those are free global advertisements that is compatible with their promotional program. Nickling-and-diming vloggers is counterproductive. I don't know if a tax treaty exist between CH and PH but the US and PH has one. In a nutshell, taxes paid in the US are not due to PH and vice versa (I believe it's specific to PH citizens). That said, I had watched a video by a vlogger from the US (not even a PH citizen) who had been getting his monetization payments from YT / Adsense (US companies) through his US bank and therefore making such tax liability due to the US. Nevertheless, he was still confronted with the same tax allegation as you have been. It boggles the mind. He eventually decided to demonetize his channel which is a shame. Only in the PH. It's more fun in the PH. So ya, either don't get monetized (even if you qualify) if you want to go to PH or get monetized and don't ever set foot in PH. Better yet, just don't vlog in / about the PH at all.

[@PaoloRigotti]

They are now after all the vloggers and online sellers. Most of us do that just as a past time and we are barely making any money out of it. It's ridiculous that we need to go through all this bureaucracy for a few thousand pesos we get from the ads. Plus yeah, I'm just promoting Bohol and the Philippines to the rest of the world.

[@helenboholana]

Sorry to hear this with the taxes, stay positiv. Me and my husband like your videos so much. Greetings from Germany.

[@PaoloRigotti]

Thank you so much for the nice words. 👋😁 Comments like these is what keep me going 🥰

[@georgevwalking]

I'm sorry to hear you got fined I love your channel stay positive 😊

[@PaoloRigotti]

Thank you, I do appreciate it 🙏 This won't stop me from continuing creating content. 💪

[@ianmangaron]

I hope paolo finished his work good luck my friend I'm always here to support you. 😁👍

[@PaoloRigotti]

I hope so too 🙏🙏🙏

[@willsiu8605]

😮sorry to hear this bro

[@PaoloRigotti]

It really sucks 😞

[@rickinhawaii]

Thanks for the transparency. Live and learn i guess. I also make vids for fun but ya 20k fine it's a hefty fine

[@PaoloRigotti]

Exactly! Very excessive fine for a small KZbinr. They should have at least give a warning. 🤷

[@ewengillies9826]

It's all about the MONEY Paolo .. power n control mate.. Big Brother is watching. It's become a sad world. Hope you can get it sorted. Bushyboy Oz.

[@PaoloRigotti]

I'm now hiring a bookkeeper so I can sort things out and continue vlogging. #onlyinthephilippines

[@ewengillies9826]

@@PaoloRigotti great mate ... don't go away from it. Bushyboy Oz

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@ewengillies9826 Thank you, bro 🙏

[@gszabo5978]

We need a video of updates on this.

[@filipinotours]

Thanks for the information bro, luckily I'm not monetized yet.

[@PaoloRigotti]

Get yourself ready to register, my friend. Make sure to comply with the regulations cause I'm sure your content will be monetized soon.

[@hulk7051]

wow that is ridiculous, firstly they would not even know if you were monetized or not, on top of that i do believe earning only 2,000 pesos puts it under the threshold for tax?

[@PaoloRigotti]

According to BIR, the moment you turn the monetization ON, you need to be registered. Regardless of the amount you are making out of it. 😑

[@ianmangaron]

Paolo screams in echo "WHY BIR WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME" 🤣🤣🤣

[@PaoloRigotti]

😢😢😢

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

Dont stress too much my friend, Ukraine taxed me 40.000 euros for overstay one month my car is about 2.4 millions pesos.

[@PaoloRigotti]

That's a lot of money, my friend. 😮 Sorry to hear that.

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

@@PaoloRigotti i lost more with ex wife...

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@belgianmakeitbetter 😂

[@raelpeligrino]

Pau for sure you know a lot of vloggers there in Bohol. You may want to consult or talk to them & get some tips.

[@PaoloRigotti]

Yes, I do know several vloggers here. None of us is registered 🤷 There's a big lack of proper information and guidelines. That's why I want to keep spreading this type of news and keep my followers and fellow vloggers updated. 😁

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

@@PaoloRigotti registred is no mean taxed, like sari sari store barangay permit but no taxed

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@belgianmakeitbetter thank you for the good info. I guess I will find out more in the next few days when I'll be meeting with the bookkeeper.

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

@@PaoloRigotti you taxed afther some amount and you can deduct your cost diesel, food, material,.... ...better asking bir and your bookeper for be sure for no get penalty again

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@belgianmakeitbetter thanks for the tips

[@cestlavielife7305]

I hope this not scam from B.I.R.Something fishy…

[@PaoloRigotti]

I don't think it is a scam. Probably just a lack of proper information and organizations.

[@kitty_s23456]

Hi Paolo, long time that I didn't watch your vids so I'm late to the party. As they say, the only certain thing in life is death and taxes. I think this tax thing for vloggers, online sellers etc was put into effect in 2020 or 2021. However, it was the height of the pandemic, so they didn't go after small time vloggers. I think they (BIR) did go after the "Juicy Vlog" that's why they left PH for a while. It's probably also the reason why they don't stay in PH full time - for tax/ domicile purposes. Mike & Nelly of "Making it Happen" is a bit different, since they were able to get permanent residency in PH and this makes them able to operate a business legally in PH. The couple separated (but that's another story). I think Mike has another business - a coffee shop or something. It's a physical/ brick & mortar business, so I guess he has all the permits, etc to operate. I agree about paying taxes and following the rules. There's also the saying that "ignorance of the law is not an excuse". I also agree about the fine - 20k is big, especially for a small vlogger. They should've given you a warning first, before imposing the fine. However, it is what it is. AFAIK, if your income/ business earns less than 250k per year, then you don't need to pay tax but you still have to file/ report your earnings. (That's why minimum wage workers don't pay tax, as well as small sari2x stores.) You can also declare as business expense if you buy a camera, eat out, gasoline, etc as long as you used those for vlogging. You must keep & jot down the receipts. Very troublesome, but that's what it is. You must treat vlogging as a business. Best of luck in the following months!

[@mikejones5364]

Are all the sari sari stores registered?

[@PaoloRigotti]

They are supposed to.

[@mikejones5364]

@@PaoloRigotti Sure they are, but are they was the question?

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

@@PaoloRigotti they just need permit barangay no taxed i asked some sari i know

[@jayce8001]

You have to ask yourself: 1. How did they find out you, or anyone else, is monetized? 2. Why is the assumption that if you vlog, you MUST be registered? 3. Why is the fine so large, and across ALL occurences regardless of circumstance? Just because some out of touch rich politician makes a law to harvest the value of 100% of YOUR LABOR, does not make it right. At all. It makes you a slave to the country. Why does BIR feel entitled to all of your labor, for vlogging?

[@PaoloRigotti]

They came to my place, they said that if I'm monetized I should register my channel. And I said "Yes, I'm monetized, let's register" ...but at that point they just gave me the penalty. 😞 According to them, the day you put the monetization ON, you should register at BIR. It just doesn't make any sense 🤷

[@evaristoguitones9681]

Sir kilala mo naman si gov. Aumentado pwede siguro humingi ng tulong sa kanya

[@PaoloRigotti]

I believe he has more important matters to take care of. 😆

[@evaristoguitones9681]

@@PaoloRigotti tanong ko lang marami kayo blogers dyan sa bohol bakit wala ako narinig sa kanila tungkol dyan dapat magkaisa kayo

[@ryandanger9333]

I saw that Thailand was doing the same, I think all the Bohol scammers ruined it for everyone. Sorry about this man, sad that you are a target when you just make fun content. But I think that they are trying to shut down those who have been web begging.

[@PaoloRigotti]

I'm not sure what they are trying to do. Probably they are convinced that all vloggers are making millions out of KZbin. 🤷

[@SlimjimMK11]

Is ALL this happening because you are a Filipino?? I think it makes a difference if you are a non--Filipino..

[@PaoloRigotti]

Apparently even foreigners residing here need to be registered.

[@SlimjimMK11]

@@PaoloRigotti This is where different types of visas come into play... If vlogging on EXTENDED TOURIST VISA I think you would be exempt.. (Maybe wrong) BUT if they have 13a.. SSRV or other visa that gives residency, then that could complicate matters.. Maybe even the 60/40 rule might come into play.. Welcome to COMPLICATED PHILIPPINES..

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@SlimjimMK11 you are absolutely right. Each case is different and all is extremely complicated. 😑

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

@@PaoloRigotti many frauding like "The Crowns vlog" on visa tourist, monetised they live dauis and i suspect them they denounce you, they attacked me but ha ha i am no monetised.

[@ianmangaron]

That is so why it's so hard to be a vlogger. 😂

[@PaoloRigotti]

😑😑😑 They are not making it easier. But it's the right thing to do if we want to continue vlogging legally.

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

Very sad for you i know you get paid badly is my second channel but as i know you are no taxed if less than 15000 pesos income monthly. Many foreigner on Bohol no paying tax and they are no shy to say on channel or doing fake charity for buying car and house.

[@PaoloRigotti]

What they told me is that everyone making and sort of money out of online content creation should be registered no matter the amount. I even showed them my analytics, I have nothing to hide. And even if I'm earning 2-3K pesos a month they still charged me with huge penalties. 😞

[@belgianmakeitbetter]

@@PaoloRigotti you need register because you neither know how many views you can have and about book sales you write 0 every day and when youtube pay the day you write it. I had many business so i know

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@belgianmakeitbetter 😊

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@belgianmakeitbetter I will register, my friend

[@jayce8001]

Welcome to BBMs Philippines. It will get worse. So much worse.

[@PaoloRigotti]

Even worse than this? 😞 How's even possible?! 😆

[@angryfrogger]

Bohol is a BBM-Duterte province. lol

[@angryfrogger]

@@PaoloRigotti how did they even find out your address and you got a KZbin channel?

[@PaoloRigotti]

@@angryfrogger I guess someone from the BIR office watches my vlog. 🤷

[@angryfrogger]

@@PaoloRigotti for sure. But how did they find out your address? Are you living in Panglao or Tagbilaran?

[@gszabo5978]

Someone wants to collect money from you to make this go away. Don't pay them. And how can they stop your blogging? They cannot take away your camera or stop the showing of your previous blogs. This is a scam to make life difficult for bloggers.3-4 hour waits is to make you just go away and pay the fine. They never notified you of the rules so they should waive all fines based on not properly informing bloggers of having to register. Good luck and hopefully they will let you off.

[@PaoloRigotti]

I'm not sure there's much I can do at this point. I don't want to risk getting further penalties from them. I will just try to comply with the law and find out what should really be done to be able to legally vlog here in the Philippines.