For
the convenience of the banks and persons using bank check, it has been
for many years been the practice to permit the banks of the Philippines
to have a 2-centavo Documentary stamp printed directly upon each
blank check which a bank issues to its customers. The printing of these
stamps is done by the Bureau of Printing, Manila. The writer has been unable
to learn exactly when the practice of issuing this class of documentary
stamped paper was begun, but the date may be fixed as not earlier than
1907 nor later than 1910. The writer has seen bank checks bearing 2c stamps
of the following four designs printed upon bank checks:
(a)
a
a
a |
A
square stamp of the same design as the engraved DOCUMENTARY stamps of the
issue of 1907, but larger, the stamp being 28.5 mm x 28.5 mm. The design
is shown in Figure 87 of the catalogue which follows. The date of
issue is unknown, but was evidently between 1907 and 1910. Only two specimens,
bit cut square, have been seen. |
(b)
a
a |
An
oval stamp, 15 mm x 19.5 mm, showing an eagle with outspread wings on the
background of radiating lines above a shield of stars and stripes, as shown
in Figure 88 of the catalogue which follows. Only one specimen, cut square
from a check dated in 1911, has been seen. |
(c)
a
a |
An
oval stamp, 13 mm x 195. mm of a design very similar to Type (b) but without
the background of radiating lines. This design is shown in Figure 89 of
the catalogue which follows. The date of issue of this design is unknown,
but it was current at least as early as 1920 and it remained current until
at least as late as 1935. |
(d)
a
a |
An
oval stamp, 14 mm x 19.5 mm, showing the arms of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines flanked by palm trees. This design is shown in Figure 90 of
the catalogue which follows. This design is still current in 1941. The
date of issue is unknown, but was subsequent to November 15, 1935. |
Documentary
stamps of Type (d), described above, have for several years been printed
not only on bank checks but also upon the tickets for the sweepstakes races
conducted several times each year by the Philippine Government.
In
1920, s shortage of the regular 2c DOCUMENTARY stamps necessitated the
issue of provisional 2c DOCUMENTARY stamps printed by the Bureau of Printing
in Manila. The stamp was of the design described as Type (c), above, printed
upon blue paper and rouletted. These provisional documentary stamps were
in use in 1920 and again in 1929. Whether or not they were used during
the intervening period the writer has not been able to learn.
The
use of TAX METERS as substitute for adhesive Documentary stamps was begun,
the writer is informed, in 1939. These tax meters are similar to the postage
meters which have been in use for a number of years. When the amount of
the documentary stamp tax is printed by the tax meter upon a bank draft,
insurance policy, or other document, the amount of the tax thus printed
is recorded by the tax meter. The label which the tax meter prints upon
the documents to indicate payment of the documentary stamp tax is similar
to the labels indicating payment of postage which are printed upon mail
matter by postage meters. The key to the tax meter is held by an official
of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, who opens the tax meter periodically
and collects from the user the amount of the documentary stamp taxes recorded
therein. At the present writing, August 1941 - the following business firms
of Manila are authorized to use tax meters in the payment of documentary
stamp taxes:
|
Name
of Business Firm
|
Tax
Meter
|
| China
banking Corporation |
JCT
- 654 |
| Chartered
Bank of India, Australia and China |
JDT
- 647 |
| Filipinas
Cia. de Seguros (Philippine Insurance Co.) |
J
- 406 |
| Insular
Life Insurance Company |
J
- 407 |
| National
City Bank of New York |
JDC
- 653 |
| Philippine
Bank of Communications |
--- |
|
