By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

SENATOR Ben Pangelinan, D-Barrigada, has sent a letter to Department of Revenue and Taxation director Art Ilagan requesting that the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate be provided office space in the Revenue and Taxation compound.
The Office of the Taxpayer Advocate was created in the 27th Guam Legislature to provide direct assistance to taxpayers in resolving tax-related issues and disputes between taxpayers and the Department of Revenue and Taxation.
The enabling legislation authorized the governor to utilize funds appropriated to the Department of Revenue and Taxation for fiscal year 2005 for initial startup costs, but the OTA remains without permanent office space.
“There is no doubt that the Tax Advocate provides much needed assistance to our taxpayers and the accessibility to this service will be greatly enhanced by locating the office within Revenue and Taxation’s office compound,” Pangelinan said.
The enabling legislation authorized the governor to utilize funds appropriated to the Department of Revenue and Taxation for fiscal year 2005 for initial startup costs having to lease additional office space.
“To this effect, I feel that it is sensible to locate the OTA together with the Department of Revenue and Taxation, especially with the additional space available at the department,” the senator said.
He added that many people in the community are still not aware of the existence of the taxpayer advocate.
Pangelinan said the co-location of the OTA with the Department of Revenue and Taxation is a sensible way of fostering public awareness and access.
“In addition to realizing cost savings to our government by providing the OTA office space with Rev and Tax, the Taxpayer Advocate would be more visible and accessible to the general public,” he added.
Pangelinan said there is no doubt that the OTA serves an integral role in preventing litigation, especially at a time when GovGuam must seek ways to avoid unnecessary expenses to a government on the brink of insolvency.