BIR padlocks 3 unregistered warehouses in Valenzuela

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday served closure orders on three warehouses in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City through "Oplan Kandado" for non-compliance to the Tax Code.

According to authorities, the non-registration and tax deficiencies of Gett Enterprises, Polymountain Industrial Corporation, and Yaflex Hardware Inc. were traced by the BIR after it conducted tax mapping activities on October 15, 2019.

Upon arriving at the warehouse of Gett Enterprises, the BIR officials apprehended a truck containing 500 sacks of sugar.

LOOK: Ni-raid ng BIR at DOF ang isang warehouse ng asukal sa Valenzuela dahil hindi ito rehistrado. Naharang din ng mga awtoridad ang isang trak na naglalaman ng 500 sako ng asukal na ipupuslit pa umano matapos makatunog ang mga may-ari ng warehouse. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/dzucuJomiN

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

Tumambad ang 500 sako ng asukal matapos pabuksan ng BIR at DOF ang isang trak na naharang sa labas ng ipinakakandadong warehouse. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/dhteco0Ccd

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

Because the warehouse was almost empty, the authorities suspect that its owner got a tip regarding the raid and pulled out some of the stored sacks of sugar.

Ipinapasok din sa loob ng warehouse ng asukal ang naharang na trak at kasama itong ikinandado sa loob. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/IUCVEYIjAB

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

Ipinasara na ang warehouse at hindi umano ito pwedeng magbalik-operasyon hangga’t hindi nababayaran ang tax deficiency sa gobyerno. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/aQuqgMJ3lq

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

The depository of Yaflex Hardware Inc., just right beside the sugar warehouse, was also shut down.

Ang katabi nitong warehouse ng mga hardware sa Karuhatan, ikinandado rin ng mga awtoridad dahil hindi rin rehistrado. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/UjjbTi0aGX

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

Meanwhile, the management of the plastic warehouse of Polymountain Industrial Corporation questioned the closure order and pointed out that it is paying taxes to the city government.

BIR-Valenzuela Revenue District Officer Rufo Ranario said the plastic company's main office was registered in Antipolo City but its operations in Valenzuela were covert from the bureau.

Isa pang warehouse ng plastic sa Valenzuela ang ipinasara ng BIR. Rehistrado umano ang main office nito sa Antipolo pero hindi nakatala sa BIR-Valenzuela ang operasyon nito sa lungsod. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/jiL5ph1ow7

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

"Iba 'yung munisipyo, iba 'yung internal revenue tax," BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa said.

Giit ng nagpapatakbo ng warehouse, nagbabayad sila ng buwis sa Valenzuela City Hall pero ayon sa BIR, dapat ay rehistrado at nagbabayad rin sila ng tax sa kawanihan. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/HzDY0qG5y4

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 13, 2019

The closure order for the three warehouses cites Section 115 of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines which authorizes the BIR to "suspend or close the business operations of a taxpayer for a period of not less than five days for failure to register; issue VAT official receipts or sales invoices; file correct VAT returns; or pay the correct taxes."

"Bibilangin po namin 'yung imbentaryo dito and then titingnan namin. Saka lang po namin malalaman kung magkano 'yung tax deficiency," Guballa said.

"Hangga't hindi sila nagbabayad, hindi magbubukas ito," he added.

The BIR warned that it will continue to track down tax evaders in the country in a bid to ensure a healthy economy. —KG, GMA News