BIR files tax evasion raps vs 4 firms in Manila

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed separate tax evasion complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against four delinquent taxpayers for alleged failure to pay taxes amounting to PHP58.3 million. (Photo: Bureau of Internal Revenue Philippines)

MANILA, Aug. 3 — As part of President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s campaign to go after tax evaders, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed separate tax evasion complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against four delinquent taxpayers for alleged failure to pay taxes amounting to PHP58.3 million.

In a statement, the BIR said that Maria Cheryl Corpuz Lagat is facing raps for violation of Section 255 of tax code, allegedly failing to pay taxes worth PHP16, 898, 301.38 for taxable year 2010.

The allegedly unpaid taxes are broken down into: Income tax at PHP12, 201, 035.87, and Value Added Tax at PHP4, 697, 265.91.

Lagat is a sole proprietress with residence and postal address at No. 2402 Rizal Avenue corner Blumentritt St., Sta.Cruz, Manila.

Also charged for violating Section 255 of the Tax Code Eduardo A. Socuaje, Jr., sued for for a total deficiency tax liability for taxable year 2010 amounting PHP27, 923,948.84, inclusive of increments, broken down into IT — PHP3,205,497.04 and VAT – PHP24, 718, 451.80.

Socuaje is the sole proprietor of Gold East Trading with business address at Rm. 326-330 Regina Bldg., Escolt St., Binondo, Manila.

The BIR also filed tax evasion raps against two other companies in Manila.

BIR charged violating Section 255 in relation to Sections 253 (d) and 256 of the Tax Code against Hanwell Industrial Corporation Inc. and its responsible corporate officers, President Felix Chung Lopez and Treasurer Maribeth Lopez and Jin Hung Bijou Art, Inc. and its President Anavette Guevarra.

Hanwell and Jin Hung are domestic corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They are likewise registered with BIR Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 31 – Sta. Cruz, Manila and RDO No. 29 – Tondo, Manila, respectively.

Respondent Hanwell is engaged in the business of retail and wholesale of industrial products with registered business address at 1142 Analecto St., Sta. Cruz, Manila. It is being sued for a total deficiency VAT liability covering the period Jan. 1 to 30, 2017 amounting PHP4,238,307.55, inclusive of increments.

On the other hand, Jin Hung conducts its operations at its registered business address at Ilaya St., Tondo, Manila. It is being sued for a total deficiency tax liability covering taxable year 2011 amounting to PHP9,492,878.00, inclusive of increments broken down into IT PHP8,637,498.40 and Improperly Accumulated Earnings Tax (IAET) – PHP855,379.60.

BIR Manila records of investigation showed that the abovementioned respondents were served the corresponding Letter Notices (LN), Letters of Authority (LOA), Requests for Presentations of Records, Subpoena Duces Terum (SDT), Preliminary Assessment Notices (PAN), Final Assessment Notices (FAN), and Formal Letters of Demand (FLD) with Details of Discrepancies but failed to either pay or to protest said assessments, hence making the said assessments final, executor, and demandable.

The subsequent issuance of Preliminary Collection Letters (PCL), Final Notices Before Seizure (FNBS), Warrants of Distraint and/or Levy (WDL), and Warrants of Garnishments (WG) was ignored by the respondents, as afore-cited assessments remained unpaid. The respondents’ obstinate failure and continued refusal to pay their long overdue deficiency taxes, despite repeated demands, constitute willful failure to pay the taxes due to the government.

The cases filed against four delinquent taxpayers are the 44, 45, 46 and 47 filed under Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program under the leadership of Commisioner Caesar R. Dulay.