Zoren Legaspi may face more raps

Zoren Legaspi may face more charges for tax payment discrepancies. / Photo from Zoren Legaspi’s Facebook Page

MANILA — Zoren Legaspi may face more charges after his accountant admitted in a hearing at the Department of Justice on Wednesday that the actor has four tax identification numbers (TIN).

The National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) prohibits the possession of more than one TIN as it may be used as a tool to evade correct payment of taxes.

According to Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, if a tax payer who earns P500,000 and above is taxed at 32% for his income, he will be taxed less suppose he possesses several TINs.

BIR earlier alleged in a complaint that Legaspi has undeclared income for taxable years 2010 and 2012 and declared only P6.79 million in 2010, and P1.82 million in 2012.

Compared to the alpha lists of withholding agents, Legaspi did not declare 42% of his total income of P9.64 million in 2010 and another 25.6% for his P6.49 million in 2012. A total of P4.45 million was charged as Legaspi’s tax liability for 2010 and 2012, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

Flora Capili, Legaspi’s accountant, openly admitted not just the possession of several TIN numbers but also the “discrepancies” committed in the tax payments her client made.

However, Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano ordered that Capili’s statements be stricken off the record as it was deemed incriminating to her client. Capili appeared in the court hearing alone without Legaspi and his lawyer.

Legaspi was given up to June 6, the date of the next hearing on the case, to submit his counter-affidavit and be represented by counsel.

With reports from Ina Reformina