BIR sues three companies over P25.1M in combined tax liabilities

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed separate criminal complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against three companies for allegedly failing to pay a total of P25.1 million in taxes.

The companies are Master Sports Corporation, Aeroflite Aviation Corporation and Chow Master Corporation whose key officials were charged with several violations of the Tax Code.

A sports trading firm, Master Sports supposedly filed its income tax returns, withholding tax returns and value-added tax (VAT) returns online but "deliberately, willfully, and continuously" failed to remit P7.12 million in taxes covering the years 2012 to 2015.

Named respondents were Master Sports chairman Lovell Gopez, president and CEO; Erlinda Gopez, vice president-treasurer; and Maricar Santos, treasury manager.

Aeroflite Aviation and its officers, Arnel Miguel, president; and Jerome John Valera, treasurer, were charged over tax liabilities totaling P3.15 million for taxable year 2008. The Pasay City-based flying school allegedly ignored demands from the BIR to settle its tax obligation.

A company engaged in the restaurant business, Chow Master was assessed with a tax liability of P14.90 million for taxable year 2011.

The BIR charged Rebecca Ann Sy, chairman and CEO; Jojo Candelario, treasurer; and Alice Yap, chief financial officer with violating Section 255 in relation to Sections 253 (d) and 256 of the Tax Code. — Virgil Lopez/VDS, GMA News